Deloitte Achieves 100 Percent Rating on Human Rights Campaign's 2011 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for Fifth Consecutive Year

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte today announced it has earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the fifth consecutive year.  The CEI ranks businesses on workplace policies and benefits provided to their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees.  With its 100 percent rating, Deloitte is recognized as one of the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.

"We are pleased that the Human Rights Campaign has once again recognized our ongoing commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace environment," said Barry Salzberg, chief executive officer, Deloitte LLP.  "Implementing policies, offering inclusive benefits and providing ample diversity training allows us to continually attract and retain the diverse talent pool needed to best serve our clients."

The 2011 CEI rating considered criteria that include organizations' anti-discrimination policies, diversity management and training, and same-sex partner benefits.  Deloitte was recognized for continuing to offer workplace policies and benefits such as providing same-sex spouses with spousal benefits and initiating policy changes to provide infertility coverage to LGBT employees.

"At Deloitte, we constantly strive to create a workplace that respects and values people's differences and contributions," said John Zamora, chief diversity officer, Deloitte LLP.  "The CEI provides us the opportunity to continually evaluate our own workplace equality practices and policies, and continually advance our own culture of inclusion."

The CEI ranking also evaluates organizations based on their engagement with the external LGBT community and their demonstration of responsible citizenship externally and internally.  Deloitte is a recognized leader in the area of promoting LGBT equality through initiatives that include:

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender, and Allies Business Resource Group (GLOBE & Allies BRG): Deloitte's GLOBE & Allies BRG is a powerful community of LGBT personnel and other colleagues who support GLOBE & Allies' objectives.  In addition to focusing on professional development, talent acquisition, retention and community relationships, this group also exemplifies the significant business impact that a diverse and inclusive workforce brings to an organization.

• Corporate Equality Initiatives: Deloitte has joined other U.S. employers in support of corporate equality initiatives, signing on to the Business Coalition for Benefits Tax Equity, which supports changing the tax code to eliminate punitive taxes charged on benefits for domestic partners.  Deloitte also joined the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness, a group of employers that supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a federal bill that would protect LGBT employees from being fired, refused work, or otherwise discriminated against based on their sexual orientation.

As part of its longstanding commitment to the LGBT community, Deloitte also sponsors external organizations, events and programs that promote an inclusive environment.  For example, Deloitte is a supporter of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, and recently, Barbara Adachi, leader of Deloitte's Initiative for the Retention and Advancement of Women, addressed the 2010 Annual Out & Equal Workplace Conference, where the company served as a presenting sponsor.  

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries.

SOURCE Deloitte