Armstrong Teasdale proudly announces that it received the highest possible score on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality. The survey is administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, an arm of the largest LGBT civil rights organization in the United States. 

“As this is a firm-wide honor, I want to congratulate our Diversity Committee, chaired by partner Jovita Foster, and everyone who has helped make this honor possible,” said Michael A. Chivell, managing partner of Armstrong Teasdale. “At Armstrong Teasdale, we view diversity and inclusion as integral parts of the firm’s mission of providing first-rate legal counsel and excellent client service.” 

Armstrong Teasdale joins the ranks of 391 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks on the fourteenth annual scorecard. 

“As an employment and labor attorney, I’m really pleased to be among such a great group of employers that are championing diversity initiatives in the workplace,” said Jovita Foster, partner and chair of Armstrong Teasdale’s Diversity Committee. “I’m proud of the work our firm leadership has done to make this a priority and continue to encourage our attorneys to get involved with local affinity groups and initiatives.” 

The 2016 CEI rated 1,024 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community. Armstrong Teasdale’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality. 

“In this 2016 Corporate Equality Index, hundreds of major businesses responded to our new standards for workplace equality with exceptional leadership,” said HRC Foundation Workplace Equality Program Director Deena Fidas. “Armstrong Teasdale not only meets these standards, it goes above and beyond the call of duty, making commitment to equality a fundamental aspect of its corporate values." 

For more information on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.