Alcoa announced October 11 that for the second year in a row it is the only metals and mining company to achieve a top rating of 100 in the 2011 Corporate Equality Index and Best Places to Work Survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization.
The Corporate Equity Index assesses American workplaces on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality (LGBT). Businesses that achieve a rating of 100 percent in the report are also recognized as “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.”
The index rated 615 businesses on a scale of 0 to 100 based on several criteria including non-discrimination policy, diversity training, partner benefits, and employee resource groups and/or diversity council.
The announcement comes on National Coming Out Day when thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and allies hold workshops, speak-outs, rallies and other events across the country.
“We are pleased to once again achieve a top ranking on the Corporate Equality Index. At Alcoa, we value diversity and new perspectives at all levels of the organization. We continue to strongly support the Employees at Alcoa for the Gay and Lesbian Equality (EAGLE) network as well as other diversity groups within the corporation,” said Jack Bergen, Alcoa vice president for human resources. “Making our workplace safe, encouraging diversity and promoting inclusion is our priority.”
According to the HRC Foundation, in just under a decade the Corporate Equality Index has become the foremost benchmark for businesses to gauge their level of LGBT workplace inclusion against competitors. See 2011 Corporate Equality Index.
About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for nine consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31 countries across the world.