Advancing Diversity & Inclusion at Mars, Incorporated: For Second Year in a Row, Mars Earns 90 Percent Score in 2018 Corporate Equality Index
Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 16th annual scorecard reports on LGBTQ workplace equality
MCLEAN, Va. November 9, 2017 /3BL Media/ - Mars, Incorporated received a score of 90 percent for a second year on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), after jumping from 60% in 2015. The national benchmarking survey reports on corporate policies and practices relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Mars’ score reflects its commitment to LGBTQ workplace equality, with respect to tangible policies, benefits, and practices.
“At Mars, our priority is ensuring that each and every one of our 100,000+ Associates can be themselves at work,” said Michelle Thomas, Mars Global Inclusion & Diversity Leader. “The diversity of perspectives and backgrounds that our Associates bring are the reasons for our rich culture. Without that, we wouldn't be the company we are today. We're proud of a 90% Corporate Equality Index Rating, and we won't be satisfied until we reach 100.”
The 2018 CEI rated 947 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBTQ-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs and public engagement with the LGBTQ community. This year, Mars focused on embedding its Transgender benefits, ensuring that the “Inclusive Leadership” program was spread throughout and engaging with the LGBTQ community by participating in both the NYC Pride and London Pride marches. Mars’ efforts in satisfying the CEI’s criteria resulted in the 90% ranking.
This score reflects Mars’ year of making improvements to advance workplace diversity and inclusion. Most recently, Mars’ placed fourth on the Top 25 Best Multinational Workplaces list by Great Place to Work®, the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures.
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About Mars, Incorporated
Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.
For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
For more information on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.
