Unum earns another perfect score for LGBTQ+ inclusion
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (March 29, 2019) – For the second consecutive year, Unum (NYSE: UNM) received a 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality index (CEI), the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.
“We want every employee to feel valued and celebrated for their backgrounds, experiences and perspectives,” said Wade Hinton, vice president of Inclusion and Diversity at Unum. “An inclusive workplace fosters diversity of thoughts and innovative ideas, which allow us to better deliver for our customers. The Corporate Equality Index offers a benchmark to assess policies and programming related to LGBTQ+ inclusion.”
The index measures corporate policies and practices that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer workers around the world. Companies were ranked based on non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs and public engagement in the LGBTQ community.
Unum provides progressive benefits for same-sex couples and transgendered employees, including parity for different- and same-sex spouses, domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples, and health care coverage for procedures related to gender transition. Its equal opportunity employment and antiharassment policies specifically protect LGBTQ+ employees.
One of the ways Unum supports a culture of acceptance and inclusion is through the company’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG), which is a community of 150 employees who develop and support education and advocacy efforts. The group also offers help to all LGBTQ+ employees in their growth, development and wellbeing as employees.