ATLANTA – January 28, 2021 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is proud to announce that the firm received a score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. This is the fifth consecutive year that Ogletree Deakins has earned a perfect score on the CEI.
“From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality,” said Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do—but the best business decision.”
The results of this year’s CEI showcase how more than 1,100 U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but for those with global operations, helping advance the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces abroad.
Ogletree Deakins’ business resource group, ODAlliance, serves as the primary internal resource for the firm’s LGBTQ attorneys and their allies. The group is the point of contact between Ogletree Deakins and the LGBTQ community raising awareness internally for matters affecting the LGBTQ community and, particularly, social issues affecting LGBTQ attorneys. ODAlliance also supports firm diversity and inclusion by focusing on business development, recruitment, educational awareness, and retention initiatives that positively impact LGBTQ attorneys. These initiatives propel the firm to achieve all of the CEI’s criteria, earning the firm a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.
The CEI rates companies and law firms 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; and,
- Corporate social responsibility.
The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.
About Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 10 consecutive years. In 2021, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor & Employment category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 900 attorneys located in 53 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies. www.ogletree.com