This article originally appeared on Nielsen.com.
Nielsen earned a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) and was recognized as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” for the sixth consecutive year. The CEI is a benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality.
Demonstrating an external commitment to LGBTQ equality was a key criterion to be included in the 2019 index. Over the past year, Nielsen expanded the reporting capabilities of its national TV panel to count same gender spouse and partner audiences. The enhancement was a cross-functional effort, undertaken with significant support from our PRIDE (LGBTQ and allies) employee resource group leaders and members, as well as GLAAD. Additional client and community engagement around LGBTQ data was global in scope, and focused on how LGBTQ consumers shop and spend. For example, our PRIDE chapters in Germany and Poland released their first-ever LGBTQ consumer reports. These reports measure consumer behavior and shopping trends to illustrate the market importance of the LGBTQ community.
“At Nielsen, our associates are our advantage. We would be remiss to not listen to them when making decisions about how to evolve our offerings to clients,” said Megan Clarken, Chief Commercial Officer, Global Media for Nielsen, and Executive Sponsor of PRIDE. “Many key LGBTQ measurement advancements we’ve made as a company can be traced directly back to the hard work and foresight of PRIDE leaders and members. They will continue to be our greatest asset to fostering equality and acceptance long into the future.”
Our PRIDE (LGBTQ and allies) employee resource group is at the center of everything we do internally and externally around LGBTQ equality. The group is active in 15 countries around the world spanning Europe, Latin America, and North America. PRIDE also expanded recently to Asia, with the launch of its India chapter. Leaders and members of PRIDE have led the expansion of our non-discriminatory policy from regional in scope to a global policy that protects employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Moreover, our PRIDE team influenced our corporate giving policy, which prohibits the giving of funds by the company to entities that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Our LGBTQ policies and practices have garnered other recognition around the world. Nielsen Poland was recognized as LGBTQ Supporting Employer of the Year in the Natwest LGBT+ Diamonds 2018 Polish Business Awards. Meanwhile, Nielsen Mexico was honored with 2019 Best Places to Work for LGBTQ by “HRC Equidad Mexico,” the equivalent of the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. Nielsen Mexico has earned this recognition for two consecutive years.
“We have a responsibility to our LGBTQ associates to consistently evolve our policies to ensure they are on the cutting edge of industry best practices,” said Natasha Miller Williams, Nielsen’s SVP of Diversity & Inclusion. “We rely on HRC and other organizations at the forefront of LGBTQ rights to inform these advancements. When everyone at Nielsen feels empowered, we’re better able to create winning solutions for our clients.”
