Henry Schein achieved a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality, according to the company.
For the sixth consecutive year, Henry Schein added, the company has been designated one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Henry Schein joins the ranks of 767 major businesses in the United States that also earned top marks this year.
“Team Schein is honored to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for our commitment to LGBTQ workplace equality,” said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and CEO of Henry Schein.
“It is our mission at Henry Schein to promote an environment for our team members where diversity and inclusion thrives to best support the diversity of our customers, the patients they serve, and society at large. Our diversity is our strength, and each Team Schein member brings unique perspectives and experiences that help ensure our best years are yet to come,” he said.
Henry Schein’s commitment to LGBTQ equality in the workplace is best demonstrated by its employee resource group, PRIDE & ALLIES, which aims to enhance, foster, and preserve an inclusive environment where LGBTQ Team Schein members are empowered to be their authentic selves and are valued for their diverse perspectives, which contribute to Henry Schein’s business success, the company said.
Throughout the year, PRIDE & ALLIES hosts multiple marketing, philanthropic, public support, and recruitment activities to foster engagement with Team Schein members and LGBTQ community and professional organizations.
These efforts include sponsoring a virtual 5K walk in celebration of Pride Month in June 2020 and participating in workplace forums to develop relationships with small, disadvantaged businesses, including but not limited to veteran-owned, HUBZone, LGBTQ, and ethnic, minority, or women-owned small businesses.
Most recently, PRIDE & ALLIES introduced “Revelations,” a series of candid conversations about coming out, breaking down barriers, developing an inclusive and cohesive environment, and building trusting relationships that foster and encourage individuals to live openly at home, at work, and in the community.
Since its inception, the series has provided networking opportunities for Team Schein members throughout the pandemic, addressing the need to remain connected while working from home, the company said. Each “Revelations” conversation is designed to bring relevant and educational topics to the forefront.
Throughout the series, PRIDE & ALLIES has collaborated with the company’s other employee resource groups, including the Women’s Leadership Network, a forum open to and inclusive of all Team Schein members, that empowers, develops, and connects a network of women to drive business success.
PRIDE & ALLIES also partners with local and national LGBTQ organizations to create an inclusive and diverse network of perspectives, resources, and support for Team Schein members.
“From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality,” said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign president.
“This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways,” David said. “Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do but the best business decision.”
The results of the 2021 CEI showcase how 1,142 US-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies in the United States, but also for the 57% of CEI-rated companies with global operations who are helping advance the cause of LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces abroad, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation said.
Henry Schein’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria earned a 100% ranking and the designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality.
The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to more than 18 million US workers and an additional 17 million abroad. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine’s 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine’s top 200 revenue-grossing law firms, 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
- Corporate social responsibility
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