These 10 workplaces are setting the bar for inclusion and equal opportunity for LGBT employees in Northeast Ohio.
Employees: 9,000 locally, 26,000 nationwide
Industry: Insurance • The company created an LGBT employee resource group in 2008 that currently has more than 1,100 members. All employees receive diversity and inclusion training upon hire.
Benefits and beyond: Progressive offers medical, dental and vision for same-sex domestic partners.
Baker Hostetler
Employees:415
Industry: Law • A national firm committed to inclusive hiring and diverse cases — pro bono work includes a case that resulted in lowered costs for HIV and AIDS drugs.
Benefits and beyond: The company offers same-sex domestic partners health, dental and vision. It also participates in the Lavender Law Career Fair, designed to pair law firms with qualified LGBT candidates.
925Hire
Employees: 4 locally, 17 nationwide
Industry: Staffing • This lesbian-owned, LGBT-certified staffing firm connects qualified LGBT job seekers with employers and helps educate companies on the values of diversity.
Benefits and beyond: Employees of 925Hire enjoy domestic partner benefits, and it's working on a smartphone app that will assist those in the LGBT community with their job search.
Fit Technologies
Employees:50
Industry: Information technology • The company has held various events in conjunction with Plexus — a nonprofit LGBT business community — and is a certified LGBT-owned business through the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
Benefits and beyond: Fit Technologies offers multiple tiers of health insurance and dental to domestic partners as well as diversity training and management.
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Industry:Banking and finance • The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland focuses on inclusive interviewing and hiring and a continuing dialogue on the importance of diversity.
Benefits and beyond: Along with domestic partner benefits — medical, dental and vision — the bank also has an LGBT Resource Network Group.
OutSmart Office Solutions
Employees:4
Industry:Office supply • The only LGBT-certified partner of Office Depot, which is merging with Office Max, worked with the company to achieve a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index.
Benefits and beyond: The all-gay staff receives medical benefits and attends the annual National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce conference.
Industry: Health care • As one of the region's largest employers, the health care system is dedicated to hiring diverse employees, and its office of diversity provides inclusion training and counseling.
Benefits and beyond: The Clinic was one of the first employers to offer same-gender partner benefits. Employees can attend a course examining sexual orientation and religion in the workplace.
Frantz Ward
Industry: Law • The firm recently hosted a training program for all employees on unconscious bias and participated in various events held by the Greater Cleveland Partnership's Commission on Economic Inclusion.
Benefits and beyond: Employees receive health insurance for domestic partners, and the company has a committee that works toward continuing diversity and inclusion efforts.
The Cleveland Foundation
Industry: Nonprofit • The 100-year-old foundation became the first presenting sponsor of Gay Games 9 with a $250,000 grant.
Benefits and beyond: It has sponsored full health coverage for domestic partners for years. This spring, it created a diversity council and hosted an LGBT cultural competency workshop.
Key Corp.
Industry:Banking • The bank boasts six perfect scores on the annual Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. It has partnered with a number of philanthropic organizations nationwide.
Benefits and beyond: Key Corp. offers health care, retirement funds, adoption assistance and various other benefits to same-sex partners.
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