The Corporate Equality Index is a report published by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as a tool to rate American businesses on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.
Its primary source of data are surveys[1] but researchers cross-check business policy and their implications for LGBTQ workers and public records independently.
[4] In the most recent modified CEI criteria, a fifth pillar is considered, where "businesses must not have any kind of involvement with anti-LGBT organizations or activity".
It was originally modeled after the Gay and Lesbian Values Index, a rating system that was designed by journalist Grant Lukenbill.
The few organizations that chose to opt-out of CEI ranking publicity was due to concern of losing business and firm-value for supporting LGBT workplace equality.
For corporations looking to broaden diversity and inclusion within its labor force, it “is about the power that an organization can derive from deliberately nurturing and integrating heterogeneous groups of people so that they fit together”.
[14] Additionally, many companies are pressured to change policies that have earned them a poor score on the index, due to bad press.
Additionally, small and large businesses that go beyond their CEI ranking by integrating the views of LGBT employees and clientele entice innovation while strengthening firm-value.