Non-Discrimination – Trillium Asset Management

Investors Call on Olympic Sponsors to End Their Silence, Defend Russian LGBT Rights

February 10, 2014

February 6, 2014: New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, as trustee of the $160.7 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund, along with New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and a coalition of 19 investors, released letters written to four major corporate sponsors of the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia that failed to respond to an earlier request they use their influence to ensure the protection of the human rights of Russian citizens, as well as athletes and visitors to the Olympics. The letters follow an initial outreach to ten companies in December regarding Russia’s recently enacted …

FactSet Updates Non-discrimination Policy Following Trillium’s Shareholder Engagement

August 7, 2013

On Friday, August 2, 2013, following dialogue with Trillium Asset Management (Trillium), financial information provider FactSet (NYSE: FDS) updated its employment and non-discrimination policies to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression. Trillium believes that companies and workers benefit from consistent, corporate-wide efforts to prevent discrimination, ensuring a respectful and supportive atmosphere for all employees. “Despite being named a Fortune 100 “Best Company to Work For” in 2013, FactSet had lagged its sector peers including Thomson Reuters and MSCI Inc. in providing protections for gender identity and expression in its non-discrimination policy,” said Susan Baker of …

Following Trillium’s Shareholder Engagement, Four Companies Update Non-Discrimination Policies

January 23, 2013

Directly following Trillium Asset Management’s (Trillium) corporate engagement in the autumn of 2012, Sealed Air (NYSE: SEE), Reinsurance Group of American (NYSE: RGA), W.W. Grainger (NYSE: GWW) and East West Bancorp* (NASDAQ: EWBC) updated their employment and non-discrimination policies to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression. Trillium believes that companies and workers benefit from consistent, corporate-wide, efforts to prevent discrimination, ensuring a respectful and supportive atmosphere for all employees. “The success of our anti-discrimination engagements this fall is reflective of a shift in corporate America. Companies understand the importance of guaranteeing equal protection …

Questar – Implement Sexual Orientation Non Discrimination Policy (2010)

February 4, 2010

WHEREAS Questar does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (or gender expression) in its written employment policy; Over 87% of the Fortune 500 companies have adopted written nondiscrimination policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as have more than 97% of Fortune 100 companies, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Nearly 70% of the Fortune 100 and over 40% of the Fortune 500 now prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression; We believe that corporations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression have a competitive …

Gardner Denver – Gender Identity Non Discrimination (2010)

February 4, 2010

WHEREAS Gardner Denver, Inc. does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (or gender expression) in its written employment policy; Over 87% of the Fortune 500 companies have adopted written nondiscrimination policies prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as have more than 97% of Fortune 100 companies, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Nearly 70% of the Fortune 100 and over 40% of the Fortune 500 now prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression; We believe that corporations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression have …

Pentair – Sexual Orientation Non Discrimination Policy (2008)

January 24, 2008

WHEREAS Pentair does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in its written employment policy; We believe that corporations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation have a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining employees from the widest talent pool; According to the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, studies since the mid-1990s found that at least one in ten gay men and lesbians experienced workplace harassment or discrimination based on their sexual orientation; National public opinion polls consistently find that the majority of Americans support equal rights in the workplace for gay men, lesbians …

Home Depot – Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) (2008)

January 24, 2008

WHEREAS Equal employment opportunity (EEO) is a fair employment practice and an investment issue. We believe that companies with a good EEO record have a competitive advantage in employee recruitment and retention. Moreover, U.S. customers are increasingly diverse. A representative work force is more likely to anticipate and respond effectively to evolving consumer demand. Conversely, allegations of discrimination in the workplace have created a significant burden for shareholders due to the high cost of litigation and the potential loss of government contracts. Such litigation may also damage a company’s reputation. Specifically, the cost to Home Depot shareholders for settling discrimination …

ExxonMobil – Implement Sexual Orientation Non Discrimination Policy (2008)

January 23, 2008

WHEREAS ExxonMobil does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in its written employment policy; Over 88% of the Fortune 500 companies have adopted written nondiscrimination policies prohibiting harassment and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as have more than 98% of Fortune 100 companies, according to the Human Rights Campaign; over 30% now prohibit discrimination based on gender identity; We believe that corporations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity have a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining employees from the widest talent pool; According to a September 2002 …

Expeditors International – Implement Sexual Orientation Non Discrimination Policy (2008)

January 23, 2008

WHEREAS Expeditors International does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in its written employment policy; Our direct competitors EGL and UPS explicitly prohibit this form of discrimination in their written policies; in Washington where Expeditors is headquartered, a number of major employers have this policy, including Microsoft, Starbucks, Safeco, Weyerhauser, Washington Mutual, Costco, Expedia, Nordstrom and others (see www.hrc.org/worklife); Nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 companies have adopted written nondiscrimination policies prohibiting harassment and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as have 98% of the Fortune 100 companies, according to the Human Rights Campaign; We believe that …

Investors Call on Olympic Sponsors to End Their Silence, Defend Russian LGBT Rights

FactSet Updates Non-discrimination Policy Following Trillium’s Shareholder Engagement

Following Trillium’s Shareholder Engagement, Four Companies Update Non-Discrimination Policies

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