Herman Miller, Inc., Recognized by Human Rights Campaign With Perfect Score in Corporate Equality Index Ranking
Herman Miller has received the top rating of 100 percent in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's annual Corporate Equality Index released, September 17, 2007. The company is one of 195 major U.S. businesses, employing more than 8.3 million workers, to gain the 100 percent ranking for treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.
"This recognition is a testament to our commitment to inclusiveness," said Brian Walker, Herman Miller's President and CEO. "In the accelerating competition for talent, inclusiveness is a strategic business imperative for us. We believe that our ability to innovate depends on our ability to attract the best people to Herman Miller, so we strive to ensure that our company is a place where everyone's gifts are welcomed."
Michael Ramirez, Herman Miller's Director of Inclusiveness and Diversity, said the 100 percent rating represents "another step in an ongoing journey to make certain that Herman Miller is a place where we bring the whole person to work and where we respect the talents of all."
The Corporate Equality Index, which this year rated 519 businesses, measures the extent to which employers protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees. Ratings are based on factors including non-discrimination policies, diversity training and benefits for domestic partners and transgender employees.
This was the first year Herman Miller was rated in the Corporate Equality Index. It is one of only three manufacturing companies to receive the top rating, and the only in its industry to be ranked. When the Corporate Equality Index was launched in 2002, only 13 companies, employing 690,000 workers, received the top rating in the inaugural survey.
"More businesses than ever before have recognized the value of a diverse and dedicated workforce," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "More importantly, these employers understand that discrimination against GLBT workers will ultimately hurt their ability to compete in the global marketplace."
The full report can be downloaded from the Human Rights Campaign's website.
The designs and services of Herman Miller enhance the performance of human habitats worldwide, making customers' lives more productive, rewarding, delightful, and meaningful. The company's award-winning products, complemented by furniture management and strategic consulting services, generated over $1.9 billion in revenue during fiscal 2007.
Widely recognized for both its innovative products and business practices, Herman Miller is a recipient of the prestigious National Design Award for product design from the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, and in 2007 the company was once again cited by FORTUNE magazine as the "Most Admired" company in its industry and included among CRO magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens." The company trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR.
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