Hyland, Lexmark and Macquarie have all been recognized in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). 

Hyland has been included in the CEI for the second year — a time during which the company has enhanced its benefits to ensure transgender coverage and increased its corporate sociality responsibility support for the LGBTQ+ community. Those efforts include:

• Enhanced transgender-inclusive health-care coverage including gender transition surgery, hormone therapy and medications
• Increased philanthropic donations to the LGBTQ+ community
• Revised language to Hyland's supplier diversity program to ensure nondiscrimination against LGBTQ+ businesses

Additionally, Hyland's LGBTQ+ employee resource group, Hyland Pride Alliance, promotes LGBTQ+ awareness within the company, creating a safe and supportive forum for discussing issues facing members of LGBTQ+ communities. The group aims to make a lasting and positive impact both within Hyland and in local communities through education, outreach and positive interaction.

"It's important to us at Hyland that every employee feels a sense of belonging and comfort in being who they are," said Debbie Connelly, chief people officer, Hyland, and executive sponsor of Hyland Pride Alliance. "Our recent efforts to enhance benefits for our LGBTQ+ employees and allies have been driven by meaningful conversations with Hylanders impacted by these benefits, and we look forward to continuing to find ways to further support these programs."

Lexmark received a top score of 100 in the CEI. It has been recognized each year since the CEI began in 2002.

"We are proud to again receive a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index, recognizing our commitment to diversity and inclusion," said Sharon Votaw, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, Lexmark. "Lexmark offers a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees can be their authentic selves, and individual differences are valued and celebrated. Our company, our communities and our customers reap the rewards."

Lexmark's efforts in satisfying all the CEI's criteria earned a 100% ranking and the designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.

Macquarie has also been recognized as one of the "Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality," receiving a perfect score on the CEI for the fourth consecutive year.

"We are proud to again achieve a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index, reaffirming our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and fostering a culture where our people feel they can be themselves," said Chris Michel, head of talent and inclusion, Americas, Macquarie. "This designation represents our continued efforts to ensure our policies and practices support us in building a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where all our people feel empowered to reach their full potential."

Macquarie and its employees support a number of initiatives to improve opportunities and equality for the LGBTQ+ community, including partnerships between Macquarie Pride Americas (Pride), Macquarie's LGBTQ+ and ally employee network group and organizations such as SAGE, one of America's largest non-profit organizations providing services and advocacy for LGBTQ+ elders; the New York Anti-Violence Project, an organization dedicated to ending all forms of violence against the LGBTQ+ community; The Ali Forney Center, the largest community center helping LGBTQ+ homeless youth in the United States; and Out4Undergrad, an organization focused on advancing undergraduate LGBTQ+ leaders in their professional lives.

"This achievement was made possible by the dedication of our people and our Pride employee network group who work to improve opportunity, support and resources for our LGBTQ+ people and allies," said Sherri Brudner, managing director, Commodities and Global Markets group, Macquarie, and co-executive sponsor of Macquarie Pride Americas. "We value the innovation and creativity that diversity brings and recognize that inclusion ensures our people are empowered to innovate and invest for a better future."

"When the Human Rights Campaign Foundation created the Corporate Equality Index 20 years ago, we dreamed that LGBTQ+ workers — from the factory floor to corporate headquarters, in big cities and small towns — could have access to the policies and benefits needed to thrive and live life authentically," said Jay Brown, senior vice president of programs, research and training, Human Rights Campaign. "Congratulations to Lexmark for achieving the title of 'best places to work for LGBTQ+ equality' and working to advance inclusion in the workplace."

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
• Corporate social responsibility

This year’s CEI reflects growth across every measurement category, from the adoption of inclusive non-discrimination policies to equitable health-care benefits for transgender employees.

The results of the 2022 CEI showcase how 1,271 U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ+-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but also for the 56% of CEI-rated companies with global operations that are helping advance the cause of LGBTQ+ inclusion in workplaces abroad.