Posted on January 8, 2025
NEW YORK, NY – Arcadis, a leading partner in sustainable transformation, has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRCF) Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Arcadis joins 765 US businesses that will be honored with the HRCF’s Equality 100 Award as Leaders in the LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion. This year’s CEI includes 1,449 businesses – the highest number of rated companies since the start of CEI in 2002.
John McCarthy, U.S. Country Director for Arcadis, said: “We are honored to be named to the CEI for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition highlights our commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work. Achieving a perfect score on the CEI underscores our dedication to creating a fair and supportive workplace where our employees can thrive.”
Lisa Stone, Global Strategic DEIB Director for Resilience GBA, Growth, Digital Intelligence & Advisory (GDIA), and The Americas at Arcadis, said: “Our participation in the CEI showcases our unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community, and the hard work of our Pride employee network. As an advocate for sustainability and inclusivity in all facets of the organization, Arcadis is delighted to receive the Equality 100 Award from the HRCF.”
RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, SHRM-CP, HRCF Senior Director of Workplace Equality, said: “The CEI is so much more than a score on paper. For decades business have relied on the CEI as a tool for transparency and leveling the playing field for all workers, making sure LGBTQ+ people and their families can share in fair, respectful, and supportive workplaces and benefits. As conversation evolve on corporate American’s approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that largely recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion. Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking. The work of the CEI is to help businesses to expand their consumer base and attract top, innovative talent by supporting the LGBTQ+ community.”
The result of the 2025 CEI showcase how US-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the US and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2025 CEI now surveys 1,449 participants, further demonstrating the tremendous growth of the CEI. A record-breaking 98 percent of CEI businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity.
The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to more than 22 million US workers and includes Fortune magazine’s 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine’s top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.
The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:
- Non-discrimination policies across business entities;
- Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;
- Support an inclusive culture; and,
- Corporate social responsibility.
The full report is available at www.hrc.org/cei.
