What It’s Like to Work at Booz Allen Hamilton, a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality”

For the eighth consecutive year, Booz Allen Hamilton has received a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Administered by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation*, the CEI is a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality.

The CEI evaluates organizations’ 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. Booz Allen’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria resulted in the 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.

What does a 100 Score Mean to Booz Allen LGBTQ employees?  We talked to people at Booz Allen locations across the country. Here’s what they said:

Abraham de la Cruz is an Associate in the San Diego Office, and chairs the San Diego chapter of GLOBE, the firm’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Employees Forum. “Booz Allen receiving a 100 percent rating on the HRC's CEI and being recognized a ‘Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality’ means that I am supported by my employer to proudly bring my full self to the work. Booz Allen not only values diversity and inclusion, but consistently rating 100 percent means the firm is striving to create a safer, more equal environment for LGBT individuals and our families.”

William Barry, a new Senior Consultant at the firm said, “Booz Allen's perfect score on HRC's Corporate Equality Index played a significant role in clinching my decision to join the firm a month ago. When I was considering moving to the Washington D.C. metro area, I actually cross-checked HRC's CEI list of employers with a perfect rating of 100. Any firms not on this list were removed from my consideration.”

Jake Paiva, a Senior Consultant in the Falls Church, Virginia office, said, “I live and work in a state where it is legal to fire someone for their gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, or any combination of the above. It is more critical than ever to work for an organization with a commitment to the rights of all of its employees. With Booz Allen receiving a 100 on the CEI, I know that I cannot be fired for who I am, and that I will continue to have access to the coverage necessary for me to access the healthcare resources I need.”

Booz Allen Lead Technologist, Danny McGibney, feels similarly. He said, “The first thing I look at when considering a company is their nondiscrimination clause and their CEI score, if they even have one. All things being the same between two companies, I will always prefer the employer that has my back.”

Commitment to Diversity at Booz Allen
In 1997, five years before the Human Rights Campaign began reporting the CEI, Booz Allen approved a full suite of partner benefits for LGBTQ employees and their children, as well as opposite-sex couples. Since then, Booz Allen has continued to add benefits and support for the LGBTQ community, including focusing on supporting client-site staff and regional staff, increasing supplier diversity and small business outreach, STEM recruiting, and intersectionality within the LGBT community through activities to support youth and the trans community.

Once again, Booz Allen is proud to reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive environment.

Booz Allen's score on the Corporate Equality Index is tied to our firm's purpose and values. In the pivotal year ahead, the firm will use the successes and lessons from the CEI to evolve our community, expand the support provided to LGBT staff and allies, and further deepen our commitment to diversity and inclusion. This effort will be spearheaded, in part, by Senior Vice Presidents Xena Ugrinsky and Josh Sullivan who co-chair Booz Allen’s LGBTQ Agenda, which works to support and promote the firm’s to LGBT staff, allies and the broader community.  

Ready for What’s Next in Your Career? Visit http://www.boozallen.com/careers

For more information on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

*The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.