Five companies in the Carolinas received a perfect 100 score on HRC’s 2009 Corporate Equality Index:
• Bank of America, Charlotte, NC
• Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams, Taylorsville, NC
• Replacements, Ltd., Greensboro, NC
• Reynolds-American Tobacco, Winston-Salem, NC
• Wachovia, Charlotte, NC
Six other companies were ranked in the Index, but did not receive perfect scores. The companies receiving lesser scores and the reasons why are listed below:
BB&T Corp., Winston-Salem, N.C.
Score: 48 (2008 Score: 25) — Does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender-identity/expression, does not include gender-identity/expression in diversity training, does not offer partner health insurance or other benefits regularly given to heterosexual couples
Compass Group USA Inc., Charlotte, N.C.
Score: 65 (2008 Score: 65) — Does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender-identity/expression, does not offer transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage, does not have employer-supported employee resource group or a firm-wide diversity council
Duke Energy, Charlotte, N.C.
Score: 75 (2008 Score: 60) — Does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender-identity/expression, does not offer transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage, does not offer full partner health insurance or other benefits regularly given to heterosexual couples
Food Lion, LLC, Salisbury, N.C.
Score: 95 (2008 Score: 80) — Does not offer transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage
Progress Energy, Inc., Raleigh, N.C.
Score: 68 (2008 Score: 68) — Does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender-identity/expression, does not include gender-identity/expression in diversity training, does not offer transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage
Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, LLC, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Score: 65 (2008 Score: 65) — Does not provide diversity training covering sexual orientation, does not prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender-identity/expression, does not include gender-identity/expression in diversity training, does not offer transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage, does not offer full partner health insurance or other benefits regularly given to heterosexual couples
— More detailed listings and figures are available at www.hrc.org/cei.
It’s lovely that Reynolds-American is on this list, but those of us in LGBT communities should recognize that gays and lesbians disproportionately bear the burden of death and disability caused by tobacco use thanks to targeted marketing like Reynolds’s Project SCUM (that’s Sub-Culture Urban Market) campaign. Yes, I’m saying that a top-rated company to work for called our communities SCUM. For the background on Project SCUM, see: http://tobaccodocuments.org/landman/518021121.html
For disparity information, see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19208668
Thank you for all the work you do to advance the inclusiveness of the LGBT community in Charlotte.
Do you know of any LGBT friendly companies that are currently hiring?
If so, I’d be grateful for any leads or information you are able to provide me with.
Thanks for your time and consideration.