Trio of area companies keep perfect score as gay-friendly workplaces

Trio of area companies keep perfect score as gay-friendly workplaces - Business First of Columbus:

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The three Central Ohio companies that made the top ranks last year in an annual report on equitable workplace policies for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered employees have held on to the top honor, but they came close to making room for another.

The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign this week issued its Corporate Equality Index, which scored 305 companies out of 590 with a perfect 100. Central Ohio companies with a perfect score were New Albany-based Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF), Dublin-based Cardinal Health Inc. (NYSE:CAH) and Columbus-based Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.

All three companies also scored 100 last year, which marked Cardinal’s first time on the list. Nationwide has received a perfect score six times since the index began in 2002, while Abercrombie hit 100 for the fourth time.

Companies that received all possible points had non-discrimination policies, conducted diversity training and offered benefits to non-married partners, among other criteria.

The only other area company among six listed to score higher than a 90 was Columbus-based Limited Brands Inc. (NYSE:LTD), which received a 95, up from 80 the year before. The retailer was docked five points for not offering transgender-inclusive insurance coverage for at least one type of benefit.

Columbus-based Huntington Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:HBAN) scored a 75, while the region’s largest law firm, Columbus-based Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP received an 80. Ratings for Huntington and Vorys were unchanged from last year.

The advocacy group called this year’s results evidence of “impressive gains” for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered workers across the board as anti-discrimination policies are considered at the federal, state and municipal levels. The Democrat-controlled Ohio House of Representatives recently passed a bill that prohibits housing and workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, which is pending in the Republican-controlled state Senate.

“The Corporate Equality Index 2010 shows that, even in the most challenging economy, leading employers are forging ahead of federal and state law to recruit and retain a diverse work force – regardless of employees’ sexual orientation and gender identity or expression,” President Joe Solmonese said in a statement.

Click here to download the full report. An employer database can be accessed by clicking here.