Sedgwick Named One of the Best Places to Work for LGBT Employees

Dec. 13, 2011 - PRLog -- Sedgwick LLP is pleased to announce that, for the fourth consecutive year, the firm has earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The 2012 edition of the CEI, which was released on December 7, 2011, rated 636 businesses on a scale from 0 to 100 percent on their treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees, consumers and investors. Sedgwick is one of 190 businesses that earned a perfect score, down from 335 businesses in 2011.     

“We are extremely proud that Sedgwick has once again demonstrated its commitment to diversity and opportunity for our LGBT attorneys and staff.” said Sedgwick Chair Michael Tanenbaum.  “Recognition of our efforts and programs by HRC highlights to the communities in which we work and live our commitment to maintaining a workplace where employees can succeed regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, age or physical ability.”

The drop in the number of companies that earned a perfect score is due in large part to additional criteria added to the 2012 evaluation process.  To achieve a 100 percent ranking, companies are now required to provide gender transition health benefits and domestic partner tax equalization benefits, both of which Sedgwick offers.

“Sedgwick’s support of diversity starts at the top and extends throughout the firm,” said James Holmes, Sedgwick partner and chair of the firm’s LGBT Action Committee.  “Our firm leaders have fostered an inclusive work environment and many years ago began implementing training and HR policies that demonstrate that support for our LGBT employees.”
   
Sedgwick’s LGBT Action Committee is one of the firm’s five affinity groups that offer targeted mentoring, communication and advocacy on behalf of diverse attorneys.  Members of Sedgwick’s LGBT Action Committee serve as leaders, speakers and members of a wide range of LGBT organizations, including Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the National LGBT Bar Association, the American Bar Association’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and the Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom.  Sedgwick’s other affinity groups address the needs of African American, Asian American, Hispanic American and women attorneys.

The international trial firm of Sedgwick LLP provides trial, appellate, litigation management, counseling, risk management and transactional legal services to the world’s leading companies. With more than 370 attorneys in offices in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Orange County (California), Paris, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C., and an affiliated office in Bermuda, Sedgwick's collective experience spans the globe and virtually every industry.  For more information about Sedgwick, its attorneys and services, visit www.sedgwicklaw.com.

#   #   #