Sodexo Support for LGBT Employees Earns Top Marks for the 8th Consecutive year on HRC's Corporate Equality Index

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Nov. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo, a leader in delivering integrated facilities management and food service operations, earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality. The survey is administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. 

Among its industry-leading efforts, Sodexo provides equivalent spousal and same-sex partner benefits, offers medical coverage for gender affirmation surgery and recognizes sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in its Equal Employment Opportunity Policy. The company also sponsors an LGBT employee business resource group and actively engages LGBT-certified vendors as part of its supplier diversity program. In addition, Sodexo continues to develop its managers to be more inclusive through innovative, award-winning resources like the LGBT Conversation Guide.  

"American workers still lack reliable employment protections in 29 states due to their sexual orientation; 32 states because of gender identity," said George Chavel, president and CEO, Sodexo. "While the vast majority of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation and gender identity protections in their workplace policies, too many businesses do not, or they operate in states where such protections do not currently exist."

Sodexo has committed its support for the passage of the Equality Act. The Equality Act is legislation proposed in the United States Congress that would establish explicit, permanent protections against discrimination based on an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity in matters of employment, housing, access to public places, federal funding, credit, education and jury service.

The 2016 CEI rated 1,027 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community. Sodexo's efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria resulted in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

For more information on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

About the Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Sodexo in North America

Sodexo, Inc., leading Quality of Life services company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, delivers On-site Services in Corporate, Education, Health Care, Government, and Remote Site segments, as well as Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation, an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $25 million in grants to end childhood hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at SodexoInsights.com. Visit Sodexo on Facebook and follow on Twitter @SodexoUSA.

SOURCE Sodexo, Inc.