Sodexo Earns Top Marks for Ninth Consecutive Year on HRC’s 2017 Corporate Equality Index
Support for LGBT employees at Sodexo earns the company 100 percent on HRC Foundation’s 15th annual scorecard and recognition as Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality
GAITHERSBURG, Md., December 5, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Sodexo, a leader in delivering integrated facilities management and food service operations, earned a perfect score of 100 percent for the ninth consecutive year on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality. Released today, the survey is administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Among its industry-leading efforts, Sodexo provides equivalent spousal and same-sex partner benefits, offers medical coverage for gender affirmation surgery and recognizes sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in its Equal Employment Opportunity Policy. The company also sponsors an LGBT employee business resource group and actively engages LGBT-certified vendors as part of its supplier diversity program. In addition, Sodexo continues to develop its managers to be more inclusive through innovative, award-winning resources like the LGBT Conversation Guide, its Diversity Learning Lab on “Understanding the T in LGBT,” and training regarding its transgender guidelines.
“It’s encouraging to know that 92 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer workplace protection policies, 82 percent of them have gender identity protections and that half of them offer transgender-inclusive health care coverage,” said Lou Fiore, chair of PRIDE, a Sodexo employee business resource group. “However, with 32 states that don’t have clear, fully-inclusive LGBTQ non-discrimination laws, and a challenging legislative climate for bringing about change, there is a great deal more to be done to advance workplace equality.”
Sodexo has committed its support for the passage of the Equality Act. The Equality Act is legislation introduced in the 114th U.S. Congress that would establish explicit, permanent protections against discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity in matters of employment, housing, access to public places, federal funding, credit, education and jury service.
The 2017 CEI rated 1,043 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community. Sodexo efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.
“Even in the face of relentless attempts to undermine equality, America’s leading companies and law firms remain steadfast and committed to supporting and defending the rights and dignity of LGBTQ people,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “The unprecedented expansion of inclusive workplaces across the country and around the globe not only reflects our progress, it helps drive it. As we enter a new chapter in our fight for equality, support from the business community will be more critical than ever to protect our historic advancements over the last decade and to continue to push equality forward for workers, customers, and families around the world.”
Sodexo delivers more than 100 services across North America that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life. The Fortune Global 500 company is a leader in delivering sustainable, integrated facilities management and foodservice operations.
Learn more about Sodexo at its corporate blog, Sodexo Insights.
