EA gets perfect score on corporate equality index

Battlefield and Mass Effect publisher Electronic Arts has received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for the second year in a row. To be named to the list, businesses must demonstrate a range of policies, benefits, and practices that show corporate commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees.

304 total businesses earned a top score of 100 percent and the distinction of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality." To be rated, businesses must be one of the 1,000 largest publicly traded companies, as designated by Fortune magazine, or part of American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms. Additionally, any private-sector, for-profit employee with 500 or more full-time U.S. employees can ask to participate.

Others companies receiving perfect scores included Apple, Bank of America, Ford Motor Co., Miller Coors LLC, Sony Electronics, and Sony Pictures. No other game companies received a perfect score.There were four main objectives of the criteria for this year's judging process. EA and other top-scorers exemplified the below objectives:

• Provide equal benefits for same-sex partners and spouses
• End benefits discrimination for transgender employees and dependents
• Demonstrate firm-wide organizational competency on LGBT issues
• Demonstrate firm-wide public commitment to the LGBT community

"We are extremely proud of this achievement that recognizes corporate policies and practices that demonstrate a commitment to LGBT equality and inclusion," EA said in a statement on its blog. The publisher specifically called out its Diversity & Inclusion team as helping company achieve the designation from the Human Rights Campaign.

In 2013, EA participated in local Pride Parades across the world. And in February, EA hosted the "Full Spectrum" event in New York that assembled industry leaders to discuss various LGBT issues. The publisher also officially sponsored the first annual Gaymer X convention in San Francisco this summer.

It should also be noted that a portion of the $10.5 million raised as part of EA's record-setting Humble Origin Bundle went to the Human Rights Campaign, though the exact figure is unknown.

"We're very proud that EA has been named a 'Best Place to Work' by HRC again this year and that our organization has been recognized for providing a workplace that is inclusive and where everyone feels welcome," EA head of Diversity & Inclusion Andre Chambers said. "We look forward to continuing that tradition in 2014."

The full Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index is available at the organization's website.