CINCINNATI, Jan. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co.
(NYSE: KR) today announced its third consecutive perfect score on
the 2021 Corporate Equality Index, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Foundation's national benchmarking tool for corporate policies and
practices supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
(LGBTQ) employees.
The annual survey assesses non-discrimination workplace
protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive
health care, competency programs and public engagement with the
LGBTQ community. Kroger met or exceeded all Corporate Equality
Index criteria, resulting in a perfect score of 100 and designation
as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.
"We are grateful to the Human Rights Campaign for recognizing
our continued actions to create a more diverse, equitable and
inclusive environment for the LGBTQ community across the Kroger
family of companies," said Tim
Massa, Kroger's senior vice president and chief people
officer. "We remain committed to doing the work it takes to create
long-lasting culture change and equality in our workplace."
Kroger's LGBTQ diversity, equity and inclusion highlights
include:
- Offers an associate resource group, providing an uplifting
community for LGBTQ employees and allies;
- Provides same-sex partner benefits and transgender-inclusive
health care;
- Partners with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
to create and enhance relationships with LGBTQ suppliers;
- Achieved Billion Dollar Roundtable status for reaching more
than $1 billion in spend with
certified minority- and women-owned suppliers;
- Ranked 12th on Omnikal's 2020 Omni50 list, which
recognizes America's top 50 corporate and government buyers of
products and services from inclusive and diverse suppliers.
In addition to these highlights, Kroger also recently announced
its Framework for Action: Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion plan, featuring both immediate and longer-term
steps developed in collaboration with associates and leaders to
accelerate and promote greater change in the workplace and in the
communities the organization serves. The framework is designed to
help Kroger better reflect the communities it serves and foster a
culture that empowers everyone to be their true selves, inspires
collaboration and fulfills the company's Purpose to Feed the Human
Spirit.
"While diversity, equity and inclusion are long-standing values
at Kroger, last year ignited new conversations and revealed the
deeper work we must do," said Monica
Garnes, Fry's division president and DE&I Advisory
Council executive chair. "We remain deeply focused on listening to
LGBTQ associates as well as other voices and perspectives and
applying those insights, benefitting our associates, customers and
communities."
The Human Rights Campaign is the nation's largest LGBTQ civil
rights organization that envisions a world where LGBTQ people are
ensured equality at home, work and in every community.
"From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19
pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020
was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation
stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ
equality," said Alphonso David,
Human Rights Campaign president. "This moment has shown us that
tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and
inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe
life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways.
Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ
employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right
thing to do—but the best business decision."
For more information on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index, or to
download a copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.
About Kroger
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are
Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the
Human Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half
a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily
through a seamless shopping experience under a variety
of banner names. We are committed to creating
#ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us,
visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
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SOURCE The Kroger Co.