For the fifth year running, Alliant Energy has been named “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” in the 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI).
“While we received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign, we will continue to work to ensure our employees feel valued and heard,” says Jim Gallegos, Alliant Energy’s Executive Vice President – General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and co-sponsor of the company’s Equality Alliance employee resource group.
Alliant Energy’s Alliance for Equality is the company’s employee-led LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG).
The group plays a vital role in helping the company create a safe and inclusive workplace for LGBTQ+ employees and their allies.
The group influences company practices and policies, educates other employees and strengthens relationships with LGBTQ+ community organizations.
In 2021, the Alliance for Equality ERG partnered with Alliant Energy’s Human Resources department and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) leadership team.
Together, they implemented new voluntary gender and sexuality self-identification options for job applicants and employees to create a more welcoming and affirming workplace.
“Our employees are critical to our success, and we are committed to creating an environment that values and fosters inclusiveness and understanding, and where all employees feel safe bringing their full selves to work,” says Gallegos.
“As we focus on our goal of creating stronger ties with our customers and communities, our employees are key to our success.”
The CEI, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), is the national benchmark for LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
To be included in the CEI, companies must offer LGBTQ+ employees workplace protections, equal benefits and support, as well as an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility.
Alliant Energy met all of the CEI criteria, achieving a perfect score of 100 for the fifth consecutive year.