McDermott Earned 100 Percent Rating for Second Year in Row on HRC's Corporate Equality Index
NEW YORK (September 17, 2007) — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released its annual Corporate Equality Index, naming McDermott Will & Emery as one of the U.S. companies earning the top rating of 100 percent. This is the second year McDermott has received this perfect score. The results of the survey illustrate a 41 percent increase in the number of companies expanding benefits and protections for their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees.
"McDermott is committed to attracting and retaining exceptional talent to our global practice. With this commitment in mind, McDermott has prioritized the development of strong diversity programs and practices, and the Firm has achieved great momentum in recent years," commented Harvey Freishtat, Chairman of McDermott Will & Emery.
During the past few years, McDermott has formalized its diversity program by implementing and establishing three different diversity committees including: the Racial & Ethnic Diversity Committee, the Gender Diversity Committee and the LGBT Diversity Committee. While the programs have varying initiatives and programs, they each have the same goal—to create and sustain an inclusive work environment where diversity of thought and expression from every employee is valued.
"To be recognized with a 100 percent rating for a second year by The Human Rights Campaign is a great accomplishment for the Firm," said Lisa A. Linsky, Chair of the LGBT Diversity Committee. "Diversity is a top priority at McDermott in order to continue to provide excellent service to all of our clients, and to maintain an inclusive workplace for all of our colleagues."
The 2007 HRC Corporate Equality Index rated companies on a scale of 0 to 100 percent on several factors, including whether they have a written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation; support transgender employees with written non-discrimination policies and benefits; offer inclusive health insurance, bereavement and family leave policies to employees with same-sex partners; offer diversity training; have LGBT employee groups; engage in appropriate and respectful advertising to the LGBT community; contribute to LGBT community organizations; and decline to engage in any activities that would undermine the goal of equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. A copy of the report and all ratings can be found at http://www.hrc.org/cei.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization with members throughout the country. For more information visit: http://www.hrc.org/.
