23 N.J. companies named ‘Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality’

Twenty-three New Jersey companies have been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the country’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization.

According to the 2020 Corporate Equality Index, more than 680 companies were assessed and designated with the honor for their efforts in satisfying four criteria ⁠— non-discrimination policies, employment benefits, corporate social responsibility and responsible citizenship ⁠—earning them a score of 100%.

In total, 1,059 companies and law firms were rated HRCF’s new CEI, up from 1,028 last year, with 191 earning top scores.

“These companies know that protecting their LGBTQ employees and customers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do — it is also the best business decision. In addition, many of these leaders are also advocating for the LGBTQ community and equality under the law in the public square,” HRC President Alphonso David said. “From supporting LGBTQ civil rights protections in the U.S. through HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act, to featuring transgender and non-binary people in an ad in Argentina, to advocating for marriage equality in Taiwan — businesses understand their LGBTQ employees and customers deserve to be seen, valued and respected not only at work, but in every aspect of daily life.”

The following New Jersey companies all earned a perfect score:

  1. ADP, Roseland;
  2. American Express Global Business Travel, Jersey City;
  3. BASF Corp., Florham Park;
  4. Bayer U.S., Whippany;
  5. Becton, Dickinson and Co., Franklin Lakes;
  6. Celgene Corp., Summit;
  7. Day Pitney LLP, Parsippany;
  8. Dun & Bradstreet, Short Hills;
  9. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Newark;
  10. Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick;
  11. Mathematica Policy Research, Princeton;
  12. Merck, Kenilworth;
  13. Nestle Health Science, Bridgewater;
  14. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., East Hanover;
  15. Pearson Inc., Hoboken;
  16. Prudential Financial Inc., Newark;
  17. Quest Diagnostics Inc., Secaucus;
  18. Samsung Electronics America Inc., Ridgefield Park;
  19. Sanofi, Bridgewater;
  20. Subaru of America Inc., Cherry Hill;
  21. TD Bank, Cherry Hill;
  22. Unilever, Englewood Cliffs;
  23. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc., Parsippany.

“Our recognition as a Best Place to Work shows that we continue to do the right thing in ensuring the environment we’re cultivating is in the spirit of hospitality,” said Patricia Lee, executive vice president of Global Learning & Development and chief social responsibility officer, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “For years, Wyndham has been an employer of choice among the LGBTQ community, and one that encourages team members to bring their whole selves to work.”

The average top score for New Jersey-based companies and law firms was 86%. Of the 46 companies in total that ranked on the CEI, 23 earned 100 points, 31 earned 90 points or above, and 38 earned 80 points or above.

Over the last few years, CEI-related companies have increased their support for transgender workers, HRCF said. This year, 89% of participating firms offer at least one health care policy that is transgender inclusive, and 85% met stringent criteria that requires all blanket exclusions of medically-necessary care for transgender workers to be removed from all health policies the company offers (up from 73% last year.)