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Scoring High
Portland law firm earns perfect score for equality
by Teresa Coates
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The businesses that satisfy these requirements are
ach year the Human Rights Campaign
invites the country’s largest and most suc awarded a perfect score. Holland &. Knight is one of
the 195 to receive the honor, out of 519 businesses
cessful companies to participate in the
that participated this year. This is an enormous
Corporate Equity Index survey. These
increase in businesses focusing on diversity.
include household names like S.C. Johnson
HRC started the Corporate Equality Index in
& Son, Hewlett-Packard and the Walt Disney
2002, at which point only 13 employers received
Company. There are hundreds more that participate
a perfect score. Every year the number of compa
hut might not he so familiar, including Holland &.
Knight, a law firm with offices in more than 20 cities,
nies participating and the number of those
including one in downtown Portland’s U.S Bancorp
improving their policies toward nondiscrimina
tion increases.
Tower.
In its second year participating in the survey,
Companies that satisfy all the requirements
Holland & Knight came out on top, scoring 100 per
benefit by getting rhe proverbial feather for their cap,
hut it also helps business. “More businesses than ever
cent for actions and policies toward sexual minority
before have recognized the value of a diverse and
employees, as well as consumers and investors. This
dedicated work force," said Joe Solmonese, president
achievement also gives it recognition as one of the
of HRC. “More importantly, these employers under
“Best places to work for GLBT equality.”
stand that discrimination against GLBT workers will
To achieve a 100 percent score, companies have
to satisfy specific requirements, including offering
ultimately hurt their ability to compete in the
diversity training to all employees; giving benefits for
global marketplace.” Cunningham agrees that the
same-sex, as well as opposite-sex, domestic partner ratings give other companies “the impetus to support
ships; and enforcing nondiscrimination policies.
more diversity with formal policies.”
According to
Ed Cunningham,
business manager
for the Portland
office, Holland &
Knight does plen
ty to make its
corporate envi
ronment pleasant
for everyone. It’s
had ¡f long history
of welcoming
diversity in its
work force and
continues to do
so, encouraging
its staff and
lawyers to partici
pate in diversity
training through
Affinity
Groups, staff get-
Ed Cunningham, business manager for Holland Er Knight's Portland office, says
togethers and
equitable policies are part of what makes the firm a pleasant place to work.
invited speakers.
Affinity Groups are broken into subsets of race,
Knowing who supports equality is good for
gender and sexuality, although they are each open
companies and consumers. The Corporate Equity
to anyone who wants to join. It’s one way the
Index lists the companies by industry, providing
company opens the doors to understanding.
their scores and which criteria were satisfied (and,
Businesses like Holland & Knight that offer this
perhaps more importantly, where they were unsat
enthusiasm and support for diversity tend to attract
isfied). At a glance, you can see which companies
a mixed work force. Cunningham explained: “It’s
offer equality and which are lagging far behind.
a cultural thing. If the firm's policies are supportive,
Employers with perfect scores, like Holland &
it naturally evolves into a supportive environment”
Knight, were given the recognition of being a “best
for all employees, regardless of race, gender identity
place to work,” while retail companies were
or sexual orientation.
ranked in “buying for equity.” Companies that are
To score 100 percent on HRC’s survey, some sort
meeting all equality expectations are marked as
of diversity training is a requirement. Companies
green, and consumers should avoid those marked
must also have a nondiscrimination policy regarding
with red. It’s an easy code to follow when making
sexual orientation and gender identity, provide
purchases that will support those companies that
insurance for transitioning employees in one catego support diversity. ©
ry (such as counseling, hormone therapy, disability
or surgery), provide domestic partner health
insurance and have a resource group or diversity
council. Companies are also judged on their adver
tising and marketing to ensure that they are appro
priate and respectful toward sexual minorities.
The H uman R ights C ampaign has made the full
report available for download at www.hrc.org.
TERESA C oates is a Portland freelance writer and
devoted mother of two.