2 Brokers, 8 Insurers Rated High On Gay, Bisex, Transgender Issues

NU Online News Service, Sept. 29, 3:09 p.m. EDT

The world's two major insurance brokers earned a 100 percent positive rating on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) issues from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

HRC, which also rated eight insurers 100 percent, gives positive ratings for firms that ban bias and provide diversity training.

Tops among brokers were New York-based services company Marsh & McLennan Companies (the parent company of insurance broker Marsh and reinsurance broker Guy Carpenter) and Chicago-based Aon.

Standings were listed in the rating in the eighth annual release of the Corporate Equality Index published by the HRC earlier this month.

The index covered such workplace policies as nondiscrimination policies, domestic partner benefits, transgender benefits, and diversity training and management.

In a statement released today, Kathryn Komsa, MMC's vice president of diversity and inclusion, said, "We are proud to have achieved this rating for a second consecutive year. This recognition illustrates MMC's commitment to keep pace with the HRC's evolving expectations to promote fairness and equality for LGBT employees, clients and investors."

She added, "Our diversity and inclusion initiatives, combined with the support of our very active LGBT employee networks, help promote a work environment in which all colleagues are welcomed and empowered to do their best."

This is also the second year Aon has earned a 100 percent rating.

Also earning a 100 percent rating was San Francisco-based bank Wells Fargo Co. that also owns Wells Fargo Insurance Services.

The list contained 10 insurers with property and casualty business, eight of which earned an 100 percent rating.

The eight with the 100 percent rating were:

o AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah

o Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate

o Warren, N.J.-based Chubb Corp.

o Chicago-based CNA Insurance

o San Francisco-based Esurance Inc.

o Hartford, Conn.-based Hartford Financial Services

o Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide

o Mayfield Village, Ohio-based Progressive Corp.

New York-based Chartis (formerly American International Group) came in with a score 85 percent, and Schaumburg, Ill.-based Zurich North America scored 65 percent.

The HRC said that the number of companies obtaining a 100 percent score rose to 305 from 260 in the prior year's report. The number of companies taking part in the survey also rose to 590, 40 more than in the previous year.

Businesses that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation rose 1 percent from 575 to 581. Businesses that provide diversity training concerning sexual orientation rose 2 percent from 539 to 552.

HRC said the average index score was 86 percent.