Several companies in the meat and poultry industry are among the corporations that have received a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Tyson Foods Inc., Hormel Foods Corp., Cargill Inc. and ConAgra Foods Inc. join the ranks of 517 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

“As a Tyson Foods family, we embrace all of our team members regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability or any other differences that define who we are.  Inclusion versus exclusion will continue to unlock the potential of our collectively unique and powerful team,” said Tom Hayes, president of Tyson Foods. “Through our policies and practices, we strive to foster an inclusive workplace and community because we know it takes the skills, thoughts, backgrounds, and talents of all our team members to be truly great.  We are honored to be recognized by the HRC for our commitment to the LGBT community and workplace equality.”

“We are extremely honored to receive a perfect score for the second year in a row on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index,” said Andre L. Goodlett, corporate manager of diversity and inclusion at Hormel Foods. “This recognition reflects our commitment to foster a diverse and inclusive culture for all of our employees.”

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.

The CEI rates companies and top law firms on detailed criteria falling under five broad categories:

  • Non-discrimination policies
  • Employment benefits
  • Demonstrated organizational competency and accountability around LGBT diversity and inclusion
  • Public commitment to LGBT equality
  • Responsible citizenship

This year 887 companies and firms were officially rated and, in addition to the record number of companies receiving a perfect score of 100, progress continued across workplaces, including:

  • 93 percent of rated companies had adopted sexual orientation equal employment policies for U.S. and global operations and 92 percent had gender identity equal employment policies for U.S. and global operations.
  • Same-sex domestic partner or spousal benefits were provided by 98 percent of rated companies.
  • 73 percent of rated companies offer transgender-inclusive healthcare coverage, up from 60 percent from last year, the largest single year increase in trans-inclusive health benefits since the coverage was added to the CEI.

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

Source: Tyson Foods, Hormel Foods, Human Rights Campaign Foundation