The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago earns 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s annual assessment of LGBTQ+ workplace equality
CHICAGO (January 27, 2022) – The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago proudly announced that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. The Chicago Fed joins the ranks of over 840 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.
"The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s diversity, equity and inclusion commitment includes ensuring that our culture is inclusive and equitable for all our employees. Scoring 100% on the Corporate Equality Index is a strong indicator that we are delivering on that commitment. Thank you to the Spectrum Board, our DEI team, and the many bank allies and champions who made this happen,” said Kathryn Medina, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.
This marks the sixth consecutive year that the Chicago Fed has earned a top score of 100 percent on the HRC Corporate Equality Index. This score reflects the hard work of people across the Bank to foster an environment where employees can bring their authentic selves to work.
"Our six years of perfect scores on the HRC Corporate Equality Index is a strong reflection of the commitment the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has made to ensuring that we have an LGBTQ+ inclusive culture. Looking forward to perfect scores in years ahead, we will continue to proactively demonstrate support of the LGBTQ+ community," said Vice President Wendy Kallery, executive sponsor of Spectrum, the Bank’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group.
“When the Human Rights Campaign Foundation created the Corporate Equality Index 20 years ago, we dreamed that LGBTQ+ workers—from the factory floor to corporate headquarters, in big cities and small towns—could have access to the policies and benefits needed to thrive and live life authentically,” said Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Programs, Research and Training. “We are proud that the Corporate Equality Index paved the way to that reality for countless LGBTQ+ workers in America and abroad. But there is still more to do, which is why we are raising the bar yet again to create more equitable workplaces and a better tomorrow for LGBTQ+ workers everywhere. Congratulations to the Chicago Fed for achieving the title of ‘best places to work for LGBTQ+ equality’ and working to advance inclusion in the workplace.”
The results of the 2022 CEI showcase how 1,271 U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ+-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but also for the 56% of CEI-rated companies with global operations who are helping advance the cause of LGBTQ+ inclusion in workplaces abroad. The Chicago Fed’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria earned a 100 percent ranking and the designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.
"The perfect score requires the hard work and collaboration of many individuals. Spectrum is passionate in providing programming to strengthen inclusion and active allyship in support of our community within the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago," said Spectrum President Denise Moore.
The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 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 (AmLaw 200), 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; and,
- Corporate social responsibility.
The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Background
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks that, along with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the nation’s central bank. The Chicago Reserve Bank serves the seventh Federal Reserve District, which encompasses the northern portions of Illinois and Indiana, southern Wisconsin, the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, and the state of Iowa. In addition to participation in the formulation of monetary policy, each Reserve Bank supervises member banks and bank holding companies, provides financial services to depository institutions and the U.S. government, and monitors economic conditions in its District.
Human Rights Campaign Foundation Background
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.
