GameStop, EA, and Microsoft have been acknowledged by The Human Rights Campaign Foundation as very supportive of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees and customers.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the nation’s largest civil rights organization for non-heterosexuals, and as part of its scientific research into how its members are treated throughout society, the HRCF releases the annual Corporate Equality Index. The CEI rates 583 businesses on a scale from 0 to 100 percent based on each company’s relations with employees, consumers and investors of various sexual orientations. Information for the CEI rankings are taken from voluntary surveys designed by the HRC and submitted by the businesses.
“The 2009 Corporate Equality Index shows that corporate America understands that a diverse workforce is critical to remaining successful and competitive,” said HRC Foundation President Joe Solmonese. “In the absence of a federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, it is up to employers to take the lead and implement policies that ensure all their employees are protected.”
Three gaming companies received perfect scores this year: Publisher Electronic Arts and retailer GameStop, which both grabbed their second consecutive 100 percents, and hardware maker Microsoft, which earned an impressive fourth consecutive year with a spotless record.
“Improving and establishing an equal workplace for a transgender person is essential for any company that wishes to attract, recruit and retain talented employees,” said Meghan Stabler, HRC Business Council member and transgender activist. “Often we are singled out for discrimination and, very often, job termination, solely because of our gender change or gender expression regardless of work history. The significant increase in companies achieving 100 percent on the CEI shows that the business-employee climate is improving, but we know there is still significant progress to be made.”
Related technology companies that were also approved of by the HRC include Apple, Best Buy, Dell, eBay, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Target and Yahoo.
Source: Human Rights Campaign via GamePolitics
