Jacobs earns designation as Best Place to Work for LGBTI+ equality

Jacobs received top honors on the 2019 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the U.S.’s premier benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTI+ workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation. The 2019 CEI evaluates LGBTI+-related policies and practices, including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBTI+ community. With this designation, Jacobs joins the ranks of over 560 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

Jacobs’ efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTI+ Equality. “Receiving a perfect score on the CEI shows the tremendous strides we have made toward creating an environment where everyone feels included,” says Jacobs Chair and CEO Steve Demetriou. “I’m proud of this achievement for our people, and I believe this will differentiate us and elevate our capacity to grow and attract and retain top talent while continuing to provide our clients with innovative solutions.”

Many factors went into Jacobs receiving this award, including its non-discrimination policies, transgender resource guidelines, same sex/opposite partner benefits, expansion of the PRISM employee network globally, unconscious bias training for all employees, Jacobs Inclusion Week and its involvement and philanthropic support of various LGBTI+ community-related organizations and events.  

Jacobs’ perfect score also owes much to the diligence of PRISM, its LGBTI+ employee and ally network, who partnered closely with leaders to drive the cultural change behind the score. With nearly 1,000 members across five continents, PRISM provides LGBTI+ employees with networking, mentoring and development opportunities while working to create an inclusive environment for everyone.

“This is the first time in our history we’ve earned a 100 percent on the CEI,” says Jacobs Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and Executive Sponsor of PRISM, Joanne Caruso. “Creating an environment where everyone can bring their whole self to work helps establish Jacobs as an employer of choice in the industry. I'm tremendously proud of our achievement and the months of work PRISM and others put into helping us achieve this designation.”

For more information on the 2019 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.