Press Release
Telecommunications firm Ericsson, which claims its innovation investments have delivered mobile broadband to billions of people globally, was recently recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for scoring 100 percent in their annual 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) and designated a recipient of its Equality 100 Award for being a leader in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. The CEI is the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
“For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion,” said RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. “Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool – a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families.”
The 2023-2024 CEI is the 21st iteration of the nation’s leading benchmarking tool for evaluating a company’s LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion policies, serving employees, consumers, and investors. This year’s survey engaged over 1,300 businesses, indicating an increase in the successful implementation of inclusion best practices in the U.S.
“Establishing a diverse and inclusive organization is fundamental to our principles at Ericsson,” said Kevin Marcellus, Head of People for Ericsson North America. “We are firm believers that teams embracing diversity and inclusivity are catalysts for enhanced performance and innovation, generating significant business benefits. Our commitment extends to reaching and championing all communities, fostering an environment that fosters a multitude of perspectives. This endeavor is crucial not only for the well-being of our employees but also for the satisfaction of our customers and the betterment of society at large.”
Ericsson continues to focus on providing best-in-class benefits, including those for our transgender employees, inclusive policies and procedures, training and accountability, an inclusive supplier diversity program, and engagement with the community. Through the company’s Ericsson Pride employee resource group, employees have created a cultural movement that attracts, retains and nurtures a thriving LGBTQ & Allies community.
“Ericsson’s benefits for transgender employees are one of the areas that set us apart from other companies,” said Margot Phillips, Director of Culture with Ericsson North America. “Our Ericsson Pride employee resource group has been instrumental in championing benefits and policies advancements including recent work on enabling employees to add their preferred pronouns to email signatures as well as a review of facilities to incorporate gender-inclusive bathrooms.”
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 first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe. Ericsson’s efforts in satisfying all the CEI’s criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.
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.
The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: Non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility. The full report is available online here.
