Apple Google among LGBT friendly company cultures

8 companies with an LGBTQ-friendly culture

June 18, 2019 1:52 PM

Pride events are taking place this month across the globe, commemorating the Stonewall riots that occurred in June 1969. And while support for the LGBTQ community can be seen all month long every June, many employers already have been boosting benefits and changing company culture to support LGBTQ employees.

Companies big and small aim to champion equality through public and policy support, as well as create a safe and accepting workplace. While there are a number of LGBTQ-friendly employers, here are a few EBN and EBA picks, listed in alphabetical order.

Apple

The tech company says it aims to have its workplace be an "inclusive culture for all.” Apple says it advocates on behalf of LBGTQ workers, and provides a resource group, Pride@Apple, which offers education, leadership and networking opportunities to LBGTQ employees. In addition, Apple’s Tim Cook became the first CEO of a Fortune 500 company to publicly come out as gay.

Baker McKenzie

The law firm gives benefits to both same- and opposite sex spouses and partners. Additionally, over the past year, the firm’s Global LGBT+ Business Resource Group launched a dedicated LGBT+ client program to promote further engagement with clients on LGBT+ inclusion, and has partnered with their procurement teams to ensure that their LGBT+ commitments are shared with suppliers through existing guidelines. “Everyone should feel comfortable in the workplace, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression,” the law firm says.

City of Pittsburgh

In 2018, the city opened sex reassignment surgery as part of their medical plan to city employees and their dependents, joining other city governments like Berkeley, California; Jersey City, New Jersey and Chicago. The city also has scored a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.

Google

The tech giant currently has 15 employee resource groups; one group, Gayglers, is comprised of LGBT Googlers and their allies. The group not only leads the way in celebrating Pride around the world, but also informs programs and policies so that Google remains a workplace that works for everyone, the company says.

Intuit

The tech titan has The Intuit Pride Network, one of the company’s employee resource groups. The network has 330 members across 10 active chapters globally. According to Intuit, in addition to participating in Pride events around the globe, the networks also connect with their community partners to volunteer, or support them during Intuit’s annual Week of Service, where employees focus on efforts to give back to the communities.

Salesforce

Salesforce’s chief equality officer has said one of the four core values at Salesforce is equality. That is evident through one of the company’s employee resource groups, Outforce, which “brings together employees who are allies of equality in sexual orientation and gender identity,” according to the company. “We promote an open and inclusive culture that empowers employees to bring their whole, authentic selves to work every day. Along with all our Ohana Groups, Outforce also educates our Salesforce ecosystem on how diversity and inclusion create business success.”

Uber

The ride-sharing platform is aiming to build a diverse employee population through its UberPride program. For the past four years, Uber has earned a top score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. In addition, the company released internal guidelines for transgender, non-binary and gender nonconforming employees planning or going through a gender transition.