Twenty-nine New England-based corporations received perfect scores of 100 percent on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index, the national benchmarking survey and report administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which calls its top-score winners “The Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality” in America.
The 2016 CEI rated 1,027 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.
Here’s the line-up of New England based corporate winners: Bain & Co. Inc./Bridgespan Group, Boston; Biogen, Cambridge; Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc., South Burlington, Vt.; Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Providence; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Boston; Boston Consulting Group, Boston; Boston Scientific Corp., Marlborough, Mass.; Brown Rudnick LLP, Boston; Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP, Boston; CVS Health Corp., Woonsocket, R.I.; DigitasLBi, Boston; Eastern Bank Corp., Boston; EMC Corp., Hopkinton, Mass.; Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; Foley Hoag LLP, Boston; Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston; Goulston & Storr, Boston; Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Inc., Wellesley, Mass.; John Hancock Financial Services Inc., Boston; Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo PC, Boston; Nixon Peabody LLP, Boston; Raytheon Co., Waltham, Mass.; Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston; Staples Inc., Framingham; State Street Corp., Boston; Sun Life Financial Inc. (US), Wellesley Hills, Mass.; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham; and TJX Companies Inc., Framingham, Mass.
In a recent press release from Staples Inc., which earned the 100 percent ranking for the sixth consecutive year, Erika Hopkins Foreman, director of inclusion,diversity and workplace relations said:
Staples is extremely proud to earn a perfect score for the sixth year in a row, as we are strongly committed to LGBT inclusion in all areas, from talent acquisition to benefits to associate engagement and development. Our organization is stronger because of the dedicated LGBT associates and allies who focus on our customers and our communities.
In a statement from Eastern Bank, another winner that earned its spot on the 100 percent list for a third consecutive year, Nancy Huntington Stager, executive vice president, human resources & charitable giving said:
Eastern Bank is honored to be nationally recognized again as a best place to work for LGBT equality. The strength of our team rests in our ability to ensure that everyone can contribute their best work. Eastern is a leader in advocating for equal rights for people who are Transgender, and committed to continuing to advocate for just and supportive public policy.
Boston Spirit magazine extends our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all the top-scoring businesses on the list and to all those businesses striving toward reaching the shared goals of nondiscriminatory workplaces for all.
