Highmark Inc. Named a “Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) December 07, 2016 -- In recognition of Highmark Inc.’s supportive and inclusive culture for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning employees, the company has earned distinction as a “Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality” from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Highmark qualified for the award for the first time by receiving the top score of 100 points in the 2017 national Corporate Equality Index, which benchmarks corporate policies and practices pertinent to LGBT employees, helping businesses to compare themselves to those that are leaders in diversity and inclusion.
Highmark is one of only 22 companies in the state of Pennsylvania to earn the top score and to qualify as a “Best Place to Work.” A total of 517 of America’s leading businesses earned the distinction announced by the Human Rights Campaign on December 5, with more than 900 businesses opting to participate in the survey.
“The ‘Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality’ designation recognizes our work and focus on behalf of our LGBTQ employees and the communities we serve, marking an important, positive milestone for Highmark,” said Dr. Lonie Haynes, vice president of diversity and inclusion for Highmark Health. “We are exceedingly proud of this acknowledgement by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for building a workplace that is open, inclusive and respectful of the right to equality. Our LGBTQ and many diverse employees provide unique contributions and help to ensure that we reflect the many diverse customers and communities that we’re honored to serve.”
Among the practices that earned Highmark the “Best Place to Work” designation are equivalent spousal and domestic partner benefits related to health, dental and vision coverage and legal dependent coverage; yearly collaboration with human resources to educate leaders and the workforce about understanding the LGBTQ community; sponsorship of community activities that engage and include LGBTQ employees and that continue to build community partnerships; and a robust LGBTQ business resource group (BRG) that helped to establish a successful model for several subsequent BRGs and has supported the marketing and sales efforts to LGBTQ persons.
“These businesses know that LGBTQ equality isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes them stronger in the global economy,” said Chad Griffin, president, Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Other significant achievements earned by the Highmark Health enterprise in 2016 include the “Best Place to Work” for people with disabilities recognition awarded through the American Association of People with Disabilities and the U.S. Business Leadership Network, and the “Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles” from the National Business Group on Health.
More information on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index is available at http://www.hrc.org/cei.
About Highmark Inc.
Highmark Inc. and its health insurance subsidiaries and affiliates collectively are among the ten largest health insurers in the United States and comprise the fourth-largest Blue Cross and Blue Shield-affiliated organization. Highmark and its diversified businesses and affiliates operate health insurance plans in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia that serve 5.2 million members and hundreds of thousands of additional members through the Blue Card program. Its diversified businesses serve group customer and individual needs across the United States through dental insurance, vision care and other related businesses. Highmark is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. Highmark is an affiliate of Highmark Health, a leading, national health and wellness organization. For more information, visit http://www.highmark.com.
About the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. The Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index was established in 2002 and is the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. http://www.hrc.org
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Janice Maszle, Highmark Health, http://www.highmarkhealth.org, +1 412.544.7643, [email protected]
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