Pharma firms top LGBT equality rankings

Pharma is one of the top 10 industries for LGBT workplace equality, according to a new report that gave 14 companies a perfect score.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s annual Corporate Equality Index assessed 887 businesses in the US in six core areas for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.

These cover human resources, diversity, staffing, legal counsel, marketing and communications and corporate giving.

The latest edition of the ranking saw a record 517 companies awarded the full 100 points, with AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, BMS, GSK, Lily, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda among that number.

Astellas has now topped the benchmarking report’s rankings for three years in a row, receiving recognition for its Together As One (TAO) employee resource group and partnership with the Trevor Project, a suicide hotline for LBGTQ youth.

Linda Friedman, Astellas’ senior vice president, general counsel and TAO executive sponsor, said: “We are honoured that the Human Rights Campaign has recognised Astellas with a perfect score on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index for the third consecutive year.

“Astellas is committed to being an industry leader for diversity inclusion of all employees, and this recognition highlights that commitment.”

Meanwhile, AstraZeneca maintained last year’s scoring of 90 points, missing out on marks for competency training, and was joined by Novo Nordisk and Bayer, who had improved by 15 points.

Gilead Sciences and Teva both received 85 and Celgene was awarded 75, while Allergan only added 10 points to its 2016 ranking, bringing it to a total of 20.

Deena Fidas, director of HRC’s Workplace Equality Program, said: “Through 15 editions of the annual Corporate Equality Index, major private sector employers have demonstrated over and over that inclusion is not just the right thing to do, it makes for a stronger, more successful business.

“From centuries-old companies to those that have existed for just a few years, major employers have adopted LBGT-inclusive policies and benefits at rates that continue to outpace lawmakers and lead the way forward.”

Article by Rebecca Clifford