Bloomberg earns a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI)

Bloomberg has been designated a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” in the United States for the fifth consecutive year; joins Business Coalition for the Equality Act

Bloomberg announced that it has earned a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) and been designated as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality in the United States. This is the fifth 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. Bloomberg also recently joined the Business Coalition for the Equality Act, a movement that is aligned strongly with the company’s prior advocacy efforts to support LGBTQ rights and to ensure that LGBTQ people are provided the same basic protections as other protected groups under federal law.

The CEI is the premier national benchmarking survey and report on corporate benefits, policies, and practices pertinent to LGBTQ employees. The perfect score puts Bloomberg among the top-ranked firms within the banking and financial services sector for the fifth straight year. The company also joins the ranks of more than 750 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 Peter Grauer, Chairman of Bloomberg LP. “We are thrilled to have earned a spot on the 2020 Corporate Equality Index for the fifth straight year.”

Bloomberg continued demonstrating its strong commitment to LGBT+ inclusion — both in the U.S. and around the globe — during the COVID-19 crisis.

Bloomberg offices worldwide hosted a variety of virtual Pride events, including a fireside chat with the regional executive sponsors of our LGBT & Ally Community (BPROUD), a Pride Month quiz game, a discussion on marriage equality, virtual breakfasts for BPROUD members, documentary screenings, and career conversations. The company also hosted several internal training sessions on LGBTQ+ awareness and allyship, a workshop on mental health, and seminars on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community – especially youth and nonprofits – during the pandemic.

Bloomberg also posted stories on social media highlighting LGBTQ+ employees, including blog posts looking at the emotional tax of having to “come out” and it being a lifelong action and the unique identity challenges they face sheltering in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to the July 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling protecting LGBTQ+ people from workplace discrimination under existing federal civil rights laws, Bloomberg issued a press release highlighting how the company has made its workplace, benefits and policies inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community for more than two decades. Founder Mike Bloomberg also recognized this long-overdue victory for equality. The company had also joined 200+ companies in signing onto the HRC-led “friend of the court” brief filed in support of this case in July 2019.

Bloomberg also provided philanthropic support to LGBTQ health, educational, political, or community-related organizations or events during this challenging year.

TEAM Bloomberg, composed of Bloomberg employees in New York and San Francisco, displayed their pride while participating in AIDS Walk: Live At Home. The event, which was sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies, brought the East and West Coasts together for the very first time in an inspirational day of virtual fun, entertainment, and community service, while increasing public awareness and raising funds for the struggle to end HIV/AIDS. Funds raised by employees to support the vital services provided by Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and other Tri-State Area HIV/AIDS organizations were matched through Bloomberg’s Corporate Philanthropy program.

In partnership with OUT Leadership, Bloomberg hosted a conversation exploring racism within the LGBTQ+ community. Leaders and activists joined Bloomberg Businessweek’s Assistant Managing Editor, Jim Ellis, in conversation about the intersection of race and the queer identity; confronting the racism in the LGBTQ+ community; and encouraging us to identify the roles we all play to support LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Bloomberg also partnered with Frameline to host a discussion with the filmmakers and participants in a new documentary film, “Ahead of the Curve,” about LGBTQ+ representation in media and the legendary lesbian magazine Curve. The film premiered during the Frameline44 Pride Showcase virtual presentation of new LGBTQ+ films for 2020, which was sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“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 also in every aspect of their daily lives.”

For the sixth year in a row, Bloomberg Chairman Peter T. Grauer was recognized as a top ally for the LGBT+ community in business, ranking #7 on the OUTstanding 2020 Top 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. Joining him on the OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Model Lists 2020, which recognize high-flying professionals from over 20 different countries, is Amin Kassam, Bloomberg’s Head of Legal in APAC, who appears on the 2020 Top 100 LGBT+ Executives list for the first time since 2018.

The 2021 CEI evaluated LGBTQ-related benefits, policies, and practices of 1,142 U.S.-based companies, across all major industry sectors. It rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars, including non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families; support for an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility. Bloomberg’s ongoing efforts 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.”

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

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