Corporate America can be a champion for LGBTQ equality when they demonstrate their true commitment by providing but not limited to the following:

• Core company values with supportive work cultures
• LGBT policies and benefits
• Public support and marketing campaigns
• Proactive LGBT candidate recruiting,
• Commitment to a safe and accepting workplace
• Have and support LGBTQ Employee Resource Groups

It’s important to know what companies are advocating for LGBTQ employee equality, especially if you identify as LGBTQ and looking for an employer that is going to welcome and support you for who you are.

LGBTQ Employees – Your Work Experience and Voice Wanted

Check out the growing listing of companies on OutBüro where such information is provided by your LGBTQ peers. Take a few moments and add a review/rating of your current or recent past employers so that other job seekers will know what your experience was working there from your LGBTQ perspective. Joining the site and adding any company, large or small, is free for all employees. Your rating/review is also anonymous. Just provide high-level details in accordance with the Company Review Guidelines. Help change the companies through awareness and provide valuable information for the LGBTQ community.

Does Your Company/Organization Want to Improve LGBTQ Employee Relations?

• Contact an independent diversity and inclusion consultant who specializes in the LGBT community to assist as you assess your current environment and move to make improvements.
• Leverage that consultant or contact OutBüro to explore conducting an anonymous online survey of your employees before they start rating your company/organization publicly on OutBüro as an employer from their LGBT employee perspective.
• Start an LGBT Employee Resource Group
• Reach out to LGBT professional associations to form a relationship to be visible for your current employees and cultivate new employee talent candidates.

Check out the articles below:

• 3 Ways You Should Be Using OutBüro in Recruiting LGBT Candidates
• LGBT Workplace Equality – 5 Examples to Help Allies Understand
• 15 Ways to Improve Diversity LGBT Candidate Cultivation
• Company Reviews – Good for Companies and Their LGBTQ Employees
• LGBT Diversity And Inclusion: Benefits Company, Employees and Customers
• Is OutBüro a site for disgruntled LGBT current and past employees to just rant and vent?

20 Companies Advocating LGBTQ Employee Equality

Accenture

How Accenture supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Community involvement with co-workers
• LGBTQ employee resource groups
• Promoting local advocacy
• Their motto is “Be your authentic self.” They offer professional development, LGBTQ inclusive policies, recruitment and retention guidelines, equal benefits as well as a global Ally program with more than 24,000 members. Follow #PrideAtAccenture on Facebook and Twitter.

Apple

How Apple supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Apple is dedicated to diversity and inclusion with half their new hires being from underrepresented groups. They have a concerted effort to identify and attract qualified LGBTQ candidates constantly working to hire more diverse workers.
• Apple has been rated by HRC’s Corporate Equality Index as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” for 15 consecutive years.
• Apple leverages their voice to advocate for LGBTQ rights and freedom around the world. They have also partnered with major organizations such as such as The Trevor Project, GLSEN, PFLAG, and ILGA on project to promote LGBTQ equality.

AT&T

How AT&T supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Supports organizations and projects that strengthen the LGBTQ community
• Consistently ranks on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index “Best Places to Work”
• Established the first and longest active LGBT Employee Resource Group in the United State
• Was one of the first to offer LGBTQ employees domestic partner benefits
• One of the first U.S. corporations to offer Transgender-inclusive health care benefits

Baker McKensie

How Baker McKensie supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Baker McKensie is committed to creating and maintaining an open and supportive working environment. This includes equal opportunity for advancement and development within the firm regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and the equal provision of benefits to same and opposite-sex partners or spouses.
• Baker McKensie provides pro bono work and pushes for LGBTI inclusion, diversity, and anti-discrimination policies. They state – “Everyone should feel comfortable in the workplace, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression,”

Coca-Cola

How Coca-Cola supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Was among the first to support the new U.N. standards for LGBTI rights.
• Supports an active LGBTQA Business Resource Group (BRG) in operation for almost 15 years
• Partnered with the Human Rights Campaign and has a perfect score on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.
• Coca-Cola has been at the forefront of ensuring equality for its LGBTQ associates.
• In 2011, the company began offering transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage
• In 2015 it began assisting with the costs of taxes imposed on eligible U.S. employees whose same-sex spouse or partner was enrolled in health benefits and who lived in states that did not recognize same-sex marriage.

EY (Ernst & Young)

How EY supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• EY is active in its community promoting and supporting top LGBTQ organizations.
• EY’s LGBT community globally through Unity, our professional network for LGBT professionals and their straight allies. Offers Equality benefits such as spousal equivalent domestic partner recognition, gender transition coverage, and tax gross-up on domestic partner benefits.
• Unity has more than 1,600 members globally, hailing from all four of EY’s geographic Areas (Americas, Asia-Pacific, EMEIA [Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa] and Japan).

Gap Inc.

How Gap supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• A 50-year history of promoting equality for all, Gap Inc. kicked off Pride Month with opportunities for employees and customers to celebrate through Pride parades, colorful window displays and special product from the brands.
• Active support of LGBT rights and partners with organizations such as GLAAD for campaigns.

Google

How Google supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Partnerships with LGBTI organizations that protect workers against employment discrimination.
• Promotes inclusion in marketing campaigns.
• The Gayglers, the company LGBTQ employee resource group, is comprised of LGBT Googlers and their allies.
• Gayglers group not only leads the way in celebrating Pride around the world but also informs programs and policies, so that Google remains a workplace that works for everyone.

HP Inc.

How HP supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• HP was the first company to start an Employee Resource Group for LGBTQ employees.
• HP operates with a Human Rights and Labor Policy to commit to fair treatment of all its employees.
• From our earliest days, we’ve recognized that capturing and drawing from diverse points of view improves our products and services — and our company as a whole.
• HP innovation springs from a team of individuals, each collaborating and contributing their own perspectives, knowledge, and experience to advance the way the world works and lives.

Hyatt

How Hyatt supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Hyatt earned 100 on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.
• Hyatt is publically committed to diversity and inclusion for all by promoting individuality and protecting employees against discrimination.
• Hyatt also offers LGBTQ benefits such as equivalent spousal and partner benefits and transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage.
• Hyatt is committed 100% to the LGBT community, and we are not shy to show this in everything we represent from our employees, customers and the global community.
• Hyatt was also the first major hotel company to offer domestic partner benefits over two decades ago and has included sexual orientation in our Equal Employment Opportunity policy since 2000, as well as gender identity since 2002.

IBM

How IBM supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• IBM contributes to a variety of LGBTI organizations locally and nationally.
• IBM established an equal pay and equal opportunity act well before the Civil Rights Act.
• IBM was among the first companies to include sexual orientation as part of our Equal Opportunity policy
• IBM extended domestic partner benefits to gay and lesbian employees in the U.S. almost 20 years ago.
• IBM now offers a variety of benefits in 53 countries to same-gender domestic partners or spouses.
• In 2017 IBM announced the launch of same-gender partner benefits in 11 countries.

IKEA Group

How IKEA supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• IKEA developed fully inclusive work environments.
• IKEA is known for having more than half its workforce made of minorities and 47% of its employees are women.
• Each company location has its own diversity and inclusion ambassador.
• On May 17, 2018, IKEA Group celebrated IDAHOT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia) to stand up for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
• In 2018, IKEA’s focus is on transgender inclusion.

Johnson & Johnson

How Johnson & Johnson supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Johnson & Johnson supports LGBTQ equal rights in its communities and continues to advocate for equality in the courts.
• Johnson & Johnson supported the passage of the ENDA.
• Johnson & Johnson partnered with PFLAG on education and advocacy for the LGBT community.
• Johnson & Johnson’s mission is “Make diversity and inclusion how we work every day”.

Microsoft

How Microsoft supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Microsoft consistently earns a perfect rating with HRC’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI).
• Microsoft constantly advocates for marginalized groups.
• GLEAM is the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) employee resource group at Microsoft.
• GLEAM members interact through programs such as Ignite talks, lunches, cross-corporate LGBT+ networking, sporting events, cultural activities, discussions with community leaders about gender and sexuality, volunteering, and fundraising for local LGBT+ organizations.
• In 1993, Microsoft was one of the first companies in the world to offer employee benefits to same-sex domestic partners.

PayPal

How PayPal supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Refused to expand following the North Carolina passage of House Bill2
• Consistently promotes and advocates for equal rights and inclusion.
• PayPal’s LGBTQ network, PayPal Pride, celebrates and furthers our commitment to inclusion and diversity and support for our LGBTQ employees and allies.
• PayPal hosts 16 PayPal Pride chapters across six countries.
• In 2017, for the sixth consecutive year, PayPal earned a perfect rating of 100 percent from the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index , making it a “Best Places to Work” for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.”

Salesforce

How Salesforce supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Equality is one of the Salesforce’s core values.
• Salesforce advocates for equal rights in the communities where they work to stand against anti-LGTBQ legislation and to promote marriage Equality.
• Salesforce’s LGBTQ Community is called Outforce for its LGBTQ employees and peer allies.
• Salesforce promotes an open and inclusive work culture that empowers employees to bring their whole, authentic selves to work every day.
• Along with all it’s Ohana Groups, Outforce also educates our Salesforce ecosystem on how diversity and inclusion create business success.

Simons & Simons LLP

How Simons & Simons supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• The Simmons & Simmons lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employee resource network was established in 2006.
• The LGBTQ ERG network is open to all Simmons & Simmons partners and employees and has the overarching aim of providing support to members of the LGBT community and providing the firm with practical assistance in addressing LGBT issues.
• LGBT network members play active roles in the InterLaw Diversity Forum for LGBT networks, an inter-organizational forum for the LGBT networks in law firms and all personnel (lawyers and non-lawyers) in the legal sector, including in-house counsel.

Slack

How Slack supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• In 2017 7.8% of Slack’s U.S. workforce and 7.6% of their U.S. managers identify as LGBTQ.
• Slack is committed to increasing representation of underrepresented minorities in the tech industry.
• Now in 2018 according to Slack’s diversity report, 8.3% of our U.S. workforce identify as LGBTQ, up from 7.8% (+0.5 pts) last year. 8.7% of our U.S. managers identify as LGBTQ, up from 7.6% (+1.1 pts) last year.
• Slack offers an Employee Resource Group for LGBTQ individuals.

Target

How Target supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• Target recognizes Diversity and Inclusion as a core belief and has partnered with organizations such as National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network to support legal briefs and on other projects.
• Target published a Pride manifesto to showcase its year-round commitment to creating an inclusive culture.
• Target signed the Equality Act and is a platinum partner with HRC.

Uber

How Uber supports LGBTQ Employee Equality:

• With UberPride, the company is building a diverse and inclusive workplace specifically focused on making LGBTQ individuals feel welcomed.
• Uber is actively promoting LGBTQ rights in cities they operate.
• Uber has received a score of 100 for HRC’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) over the past two years.
• Uber’s Pride site states, “While everyone may look, think, and feel differently, Pride is a time when we’re all uniting for the same thing—equality. From the front seat to the back, inside the car and out, Uber stands with our global LGBTQ+ community on this journey, today and every day.”

About the author: Dennis Velco

An LGBTQ social entrepreneur who focuses on strengthening the global LGBTQ+ through connecting, engaging, online, and in person.