NU Online News Service, Dec. 13, 1:17 p.m.EST

Insurance brokers Aon and Marsh & McLennan Cos., as wellas seven insurers, joined a group of 190 companies with aperfect 100 score on this year's Human Rights Campaign Foundation'sCorporate Equality Index.

The index, in its tenth year, surveys American corporationsabout their “adoption of inclusive policies, practices and benefitsfor lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees,”the report says.

The report contains ratings on 636 companies, up from 319 whenthe survey began a decade ago. Those that received a 100 areconsidered the best places to work for LGBT employees, and werealso best at protecting LGBT consumers and investors.

Aon notes this is the fifth consecutive year it has received a100 percent rating.

“Diversity in all its forms—race, religion, gender, sexualorientation, abilities and disabilities, age and citizenship—is thevery foundation on which we have built our world-classorganization, and we are honored to earn this prestigious ratingfor the fifth straight year,” says Greg Case, Aon's president andchief executive officer, in a statement. “Through a diverse andinclusive workplace, we bring more varied and valuable perspectivesto our equally diverse clients, while empowering our 60,000colleagues to thrive professionally and reach their fullpotential.”

“Fostering an inclusive culture that is reflective andrespective of the diversity of our 50,000 plus colleagues is a keypriority for Marsh & McLennan Companies,” says KathrynKomsa, Marsh & McLennan Companies' chief diversity officer inan e-mail. “As standards for employers of choice continue to rise,we are proud to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign'sCorporate Equality Index for our ongoing efforts.”

This was the fourth consecutive year that Marsh & McLennanhas received a perfect score, she notes.

This year's survey raised the bar for those companies to reach aperfect 100. Items it included were equal health care for all LGBTemployees and families. This includes “full parity for domesticpartner benefits,” with dependent care, retirement and otherbenefits.

A decade ago, only 13 businesses received a perfect score. Noinsurer received a perfect score in the first report.

The seven insurers getting the perfect 100 were:

• AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah InsuranceExchange.

• Chubb Corp.

• ING North America Insurance Group

• MetLife Inc.

• Nationwide

• Prudential Financial Inc.

• Sun Life Financial Inc. (U.S.)

Among some notable insurers that scored high on the list wereState Farm Group (95), as well as Esurance, Hartford FinancialServices, Massachusetts Mutual Life, Progressive, andTravelers. Each scored a 90.

American International Group came in with a score of 85, alongwith Allstate and CNA.

Fifteen insurers that never replied to the survey were includedon the list, with scores between zero and 30. Their scores werebased on public records, the Human Rights Campaign said.

This story was updated at 2:36 p.m. EST with comments fromKathryn Komsa at Marsh & McLennan.