Gay equality the rule among many of the nation’s airlines and hotels
Released yesterday, the Human Rights Campaign’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index chronicles the remarkable advances that have taken place on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in the workplace since 2002.
The CEI rates companies on 40 specific policies and practices, 32 of which are new or more demanding this year. To achieve a perfect score and the coveted distinction of “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality,” companies must have fully-inclusive equal employment opportunity policies, provide equal employment benefits, demonstrate organizational LGBT competency, evidence their commitment to equality publicly and exercise responsible citizenship.
In the first year of the CEI, only 13 businesses achieved a top score. This year, 190 corporations, across industries, geographies and size, earned a 100 percent score on significantly more stringent criteria.
Even with the new scoring criteria, most of the nation’s leading hotel and airline companies received high scores.
Airlines:
- Alaska Air Group Inc. (Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air): 90
- AMR Corp. (American Airlines): 100
- Delta Air Lines: 90
- JetBlue Airways Group: 90
- Southwest Airlines Co.: 90
- United Continental Holdings Inc.: 100
- US Airways Group: 85
- Virgin America: 90
Hotels:
- Caesars Entertainment Corp. (Caesars/Harrah’s): 100
- Carlson Companies Inc. (Radisson): 85
- Choice Hotels International Inc.: 100
- Hyatt Hotels Corp: 100
- Kimpton Hotels and Restaurant Group Inc.: 100
- Marriott International Inc.: 90
- MGM Resorts International: 90
- Starwood Hotel and Resorts Worldwide (W Hotels/Westin): 100
- Wyndam Worldwide Corp: 90
- Wynn Resorts Ltd.: 90
As a result of HRC’s new scoring criteria Hilton Hotels Corp. and InterContinental Hotels Group Americas scores dropped significantly. With a score of 60, Hilton dropped 30 points from the previous year; and InterContinental received a 65, down from 85.
Hilton released the following statement:
Hilton Worldwide strives to be a welcoming and inclusive workplace for LGBT employees. We have a solid foundation in place, including an equal employment opportunity policy and spousal and partner benefits, but we also acknowledge that there’s more work to be done. We are proud of our public commitment to LGBT issues, including our ongoing relationships with the Human Rights Campaign, International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Out and Equal Workplace Advocates and Reaching Out MBA. For example, we were a platinum sponsor of the HRC National Dinner this year. We are also building out our LGBT employee group, and our director of PR for our Hilton Hotels and Resorts brand was selected as a 2011 ‘Tastemaker’ by Out.
HRC’s complete report including the scoring criteria is available online.
READ:
American Airlines press release
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