METLIFE RECEIVES PERFECT SCORE ON CORPORATE EQUALITY INDEX FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
NEW YORK, September 17, 2007
For the fifth year in a row, MetLife has received a perfect score of 100 percent in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRC) 2007 Corporate Equality Index, a rating system for how major U.S. corporations treat their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees and consumers.
"We are once again honored that the Human Rights Campaign has recognized MetLife’s efforts to create an open, inclusive environment for our employees and customers," said Debra J. Capolarello, senior vice president and chief talent officer for MetLife. "Earning this recognition for five consecutive years demonstrates MetLife’s ongoing commitment to build a diverse workforce with viewpoints and experiences that represent the communities we serve. This is critical to our continued growth and success."
The HRC Corporate Equality Index rated companies on a scale from 0 to 100 percent on several factors, including a written non-discrimination policy as well as employee benefits, training programs, support networks, advertising and marketing, and contributions to the GLBT community.
"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."
In the workplace, MetLife offers its U.S. employees and their domestic same- and opposite-sex partners a variety of health and other benefits, including adoption assistance and supplemental life insurance. MetLife also has a recognized GLBT affinity group, as well as a company-wide diversity council, which consists of senior members from across the company and is committed to ensuring that diversity is built into all of MetLife’s business practices.
To better serve the needs of the GLBT marketplace, MetLife has two GLBT Advisory Councils, made up of financial services representatives and members of MetLife’s advanced market and financial planning teams. The first council provides support and guidance for MetLife’s ongoing GLBT marketing strategy, while members of the other council recommend best practices and strategies to increase recruiting in the GLBT market.
MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to millions of individual and institutional customers throughout the United States. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. offers life insurance, annuities, automobile and homeowner’s insurance and retail banking services to individuals, as well as group insurance, reinsurance and retirement and savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. Outside the U.S., the MetLife companies have direct insurance operations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.