MetLife (NYSE:MET) proudly announced that it received a perfect score of
100 percent on the 2014 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the 11th
consecutive year. The result places MetLife among the top 29 percent of
insurance companies on the index. This national benchmarking survey and
report, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, recognizes
corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality.
“People don’t want to come to work and feel like they have to leave
their identity at the front door,” says Frans Hijkoop, MetLife’s
executive vice president and chief human resources officer.
“As a company, our success depends on having talented people with
diverse ideas and experiences, and MetLife is committed to creating an
inclusive workplace, where people are comfortable bringing their whole
selves to work.”
MetLife’s primary non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment
policy includes both sexual orientation and gender identity or
expression. Employees and their domestic same- and opposite-sex partners
are offered a variety of health and other benefits.
The company also has a prominent LGBT affinity group, GLAM (Gay,
Lesbians, Bisexuals, Transgenders and Allies at MetLife) in addition to
five other employee-led diversity business resource groups, including 15
Women’s Business Networks globally, and more than 30 Local Inclusion
Action Teams.
“All these employee-led groups foster diversity and inclusion practices
that support MetLife’s strong commitment to creating an inclusive work
environment that welcomes and supports all employees,” says Elizabeth
Nieto, MetLife’s global chief diversity and inclusion officer.
In addition to supporting employees, MetLife holds quarterly training
sessions for MetLife financial representatives to better serve the needs
of the LGBT market. These sessions are dedicated to legislative updates,
marketing initiatives, best practices and education around LGBT issues.
MetLife has also played a leading role in industry conferences and
thought leadership forums to educate the community on the importance of
proactive planning for the LGBT market.
The 2014 CEI rated 934 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. MetLife’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s
criteria resulted in the 100 percent ranking and the designation as a
Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.
For more information on the 2014 Corporate Equality Index, or to
download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.
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.
About MetLife
MetLife, Inc. is a leading global provider of insurance, annuities and
employee benefit programs, serving 90 million customers. Through its
subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife holds leading market positions in
the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle
East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2013