Eversheds Sutherland Earns Top Score in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index for 14th Consecutive Year

Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to share that the firm has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Eversheds Sutherland joins the ranks of 545 major US businesses that also earned top marks this year.

"It is an honor to be consistently recognized for our many efforts in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index as it is more important than ever for companies to create an environment in which all individuals feel seen, heard, welcome and safe," said Darwin Conner, US Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Eversheds Sutherland. "HRC raised the bar this year as a result of the recent surge in LGBTQ+-focused bills that have been introduced across the United States. Our HR and DEI team did a great job tackling the changes in criteria, so this recognition is particularly meaningful. We believe it to be a true reflection of the work the firm has performed to build a diverse and inclusive environment, not only at the firm, but in the broader industry as well. The work of diversity, equity and inclusion is absolutely imperative when it comes to supporting our people and delivering value to our clients.”

“For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion,” said RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr. Director of Workplace Equality. “Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool – a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families.”

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how US-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the US and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the US and around the globe.

Eversheds Sutherland’s efforts in satisfying all the CEI’s criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million US workers and an additional 18 million outside of the US. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine’s 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine’s top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

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; and,
• Corporate social responsibility.

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.