Bloomberg earns “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” designation in Human Rights Campaign’s 2020 Corporate Equality Index

Bloomberg has been designated one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” having earned a score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2020 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the premier benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality in America.

This is the fourth year in a row that Bloomberg’s inclusive workplace has earned top marks in this internationally recognized annual assessment for businesses to gauge their level of LGBTQ workplace inclusion. The company joins the ranks of more than 680 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

“This very visible recognition showcases how Bloomberg is not only promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies and benefits in the U.S., but also helping advance the cause of LGBTQ equality in workplaces around the globe,” said Chris Michel, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Americas. “We are thrilled to have earned a spot on the 2020 Corporate Equality Index for the fourth year running.”

For two decades, Bloomberg has provided medical, prescription, dental, and vision benefits in the U.S. to same-sex domestic partners, regardless of gender. Its medical plan affords the full suite of health benefits recommended by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s (WPATH) Standards of Care for U.S. employees who plan to transition. This provides coverage for medically necessary health care services for the transgender community, including transition-related treatment such as genital surgeries, hormone therapy and mental health counseling.

In 2019, Bloomberg expanded its parental leave policy from 18 to up to 26 weeks of fully-paid leave for primary caregivers. This gender-neutral policy covers birth, adoption, foster placement and surrogacy. The company also offers its employees and their dependents free, short-term telephonic counseling (including on-site counseling at various offices) and a telemedicine service, which now includes virtual mental health services to address stress and depression. Both are of significant value to the LGBTQ community.

Bloomberg has also publicly advocated for the LGBTQ community and equality under the law around the globe — from expressing support for the LGBTQ community and non-discrimination protections by signing a “friend of the court” brief that was filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in a trio of civil rights cases to advocating for marriage equality in Japan.

In a year that also marked the 50^th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the company’s LGBT employees and allies participated in Pride Marches around the globe, as well as hosted numerous events. Highlights included an evening of live storytelling fostering cross-generational dialogue to preserve LGBT+ history and a special Pride Blood Drive in honor of World Blood Donor Day, organized to help replenish the blood reserves in New York City and bring awareness to current FDA rules that prevent many in the LGBTQ+ community from giving blood.

Employees also volunteered at #AscendWithPride, where the monumental staircase in FDR Four Freedoms State Park on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island was transformed into NYC’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride Flag — sponsored by Bloomberg — to celebrate the universal human rights articulated in President Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms Speech.

“We know that protecting our LGBTQ employees and customers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do — it is also the best business decision,” said Pamela Hutchinson, Bloomberg’s Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion. “Bloomberg’s leaders understand that the company’s LGBTQ employees and customers deserve to be seen, valued and respected not only at work, but in every aspect of daily life.”

For the fifth year in a row, Bloomberg Chairman Peter T. Grauer was recognized as a top ally for the LGBT+ community in business, ranking in the top 10 of the 2019 OUTstanding 50 Ally Executives List, which showcases senior leaders around the globe who are outspoken and unwavering in their support for LGBT+ people in the workplace.

Bloomberg will continue to demonstrably engage and support the LGBT community throughout 2020. The company’s LGBT & Ally Community plans to participate and hold parallel events around the globe along with the following:

• International Transgender Day of Visibility (3/31)
• New York AIDS Walk (5/17)
• International Day Against Homophobia (5/17)
• Pride Marches (June)
• GLAAD Spirit Day (10/15)
• World AIDS Day (12/1)

The 2020 CEI evaluated and rated LGBTQ-related policies and practices of 1,059 U.S.-based companies, across all major industry sectors, including non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families; and support for an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility. Bloomberg’s ongoing efforts to satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria resulted in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.”

For the full list of recognized employers on the 2020 Corporate Equality Index, visit www.hrc.org/cei, where you can download a free copy of the full report.

Read HRC’s full press release about the 2020 Corporate Equality Index here.