Diageo Recognized by Human Rights Campaign

Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, is proud to announce that it has earned a perfect score of 100 percent in the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the seventh consecutive year. The CEI is a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Diageo has been consistently recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” and listed as one of the top companies that support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees.
 
“I’m proud that the Human Rights Campaign has consistently recognized Diageo for our efforts to adopt policies and practices that make this a better place to work, not only for our LGBT employees, but for all employees. Creating an environment where all employees have equitable benefits and can be themselves at work is important, and we are committed to continuing to drive our overall diversity agenda,” said Larry Schwartz, President, Diageo North America.   
 
The 2015 CEI rated 971 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. Diageo’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria resulted in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.
 
“In order to achieve a perfect score, a company has to show a deep and serious commitment to treating their LGBT employees fairly and equally on the job. We also look at whether a company is speaking out in the public square to advocate for LGBT equality here in this country and around the world,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Diageo not only meets these standards, it goes above and beyond the call of duty, making commitment to equality a fundamental aspect of its corporate values.”
 
Diageo has been an early and active supporter of equal rights of all people, including signing onto the U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which was successfully repealed. The company also has seven employee resource groups (ERGs) that are all inclusive and are a resource to the company for recruitment, retention, employee engagement, innovation and community partnerships. They represent ethnicity, gender, LGBT, Sustainability and Career Development. Diageo’s Rainbow Network was one of the first ERGs at the company and remains one of its most active.
 
“I am proud to work for a company that lives its commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said Calvin Burwell who co-leads Diageo’s Rainbow Network in addition to his role as Director, Consumer Planning and Research. “The positive things we do in the community through the Rainbow Network send a message that Diageo is fair and supportive to all of its employees. An inclusive place to work is a great place to work.”
 
Diageo has received multiple accolades celebrating the company’s culture of inclusion.  Most recently the company was named one of Lambda Legal Connecticut’s 2014 Corporate Allies for its longtime support of the LGBT community, and also secured a spot for the sixth consecutive year on Working Mother magazine’s “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” list. For more information on the 2015 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.