November 30, 2023

McKinstry Earns Top Score In Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index

Mckinstry received a top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. The ranking designates McKinstry as an “Equality 100 Award” recipient and a national leader in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.

“It’s a joyful moment for us at McKinstry to have this external validation for our Pride Alliance and everyone who put in the effort to create the kinds of policies, benefits and environment that make McKinstry a welcoming place for members of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Dean Allen, CEO. “Thank you for laying the tracks and doing the work to bring us where we are today and condition the ground for future generations.”

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The CEI rates companies on criteria in four central pillars:

This year marks McKinstry’s first-ever application to the CEI. The application covers a variety of topics that improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ employees in the workforce including workforce protections, inclusive benefits, training and professional development, data collection, transgender inclusion, corporate social responsibility, vendor diversity, philanthropic giving, public support, and responsibility citizenship. To earn top ratings, employers have to show concrete steps taken to establish and implement comprehensive policies, benefits and practices that ensure greater equity for LGBTQ+ workers and their families. Earning the Equality 100 Award represents significant efforts in advancing LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace and beyond.

“As a PeopleFirst organization, offering a wide array of benefits to meet all our employees’ needs has always been an important part of McKinstry culture,” said Karla Sperber, senior director of people experience and HR operations. “When we reviewed the benefit requirements necessary to obtain the recognition, we weren’t surprised that we already offered most of the benefits required to meet the CEI criteria. I am so proud to work for a company that is inclusive to all employees and offers benefits beyond what is required, not because we must, but because it is the right thing to do.”

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine’s 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine’s top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

“McKinstry has remained steadfast in our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and our work to ensure an inclusive culture for people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations,” said Ashley Ruiz, director of Corporate Social Impact. “One of our core values at McKinstry is Put People First. For me, there is perhaps no greater example of putting people first than ensuring ALL our people feel wanted and valued for who they authentically are.”

Read the full report at www.hrc.org/cei

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About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.