MetLife Receives Perfect Score on 2014 Corporate Equality Index for 11th Consecutive Year
NEW YORK, December 16, 2013 /3BL Media/ – 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.
