The company’s enhanced educational offerings resulted in a score of 90% on national index measuring LGBTQ inclusion efforts

Malvern, Pa., April 2, 2019 – Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions, announced today it has received a 90 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 2019 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for its LGBTQ inclusion efforts. As the nation’s premier benchmarking tool, the CEI reports on corporate policies and practices relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) workplace equality. Enhancements in Saint-Gobain’s LGBTQ-inclusive educational offerings allowed the company to earn a score of 90 out of 100 percent for the second consecutive year, against more stringent evaluation criteria.

“Saint-Gobain is dedicated to demonstrating the highest level of commitment to LGBTQ workplace equality, and under the Diversity and Inclusion Council’s leadership, we’ve made tremendous strides in developing and implementing practices to ensure we are creating a culture where employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work each day,” said Mark Rayfield, CEO of Saint-Gobain North America. “We understand there is still great opportunity for growth, and our score on this year’s CEI points to the areas, like education, where we have achieved success, and also provides valued insights for how we can improve our processes.”

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, administers the CEI survey every year to evaluate companies’ employment benefits, policies and practices, and resources for the LGBTQ community. The 2019 Corporate Equality Index included new criteria for companies to achieve success: an offer of parity between different-and same-sex spouses as well as available coverage for domestic partners of enrollees, removal of transgender exclusions from all benefits plans, and inclusion of LGBTQ suppliers as part of their supplier diversity program.

“The top-scoring companies on this year’s CEI are not only establishing policies that affirm and include employees here in the United States, they are applying these policies to their global operations and impacting millions of people beyond our shores,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Many of these companies have also become vocal advocates for equality in the public square, including the dozens that have signed on to amicus briefs in vital Supreme Court cases and the more than 170 that have joined HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act. Time and again, leading American businesses have shown that protecting their employees and customers from discrimination isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s also good for business.”

By implementing enhanced educational offerings, including LGBTQ-inclusive on-boarding trainings; LGBTQ-inclusive unconscious bias trainings; and site visits to plants in California, Texas, and Arkansas to discuss initiatives related to the company’s LGBTQ-focused Employee Resource Group (ERG), LIVE Open, and general LGBTQ education, Saint-Gobain was able to score a 90, even under the updated stringent criteria. LIVE Open, which launched in 2017, has also been actively involved in encouraging an unconditionally welcoming workplace environment that motivates employees to bring their authentic selves to work each day. LIVE Open members participated in more than 30 events last year, including the Out & Equal Workplace Summit, to increase awareness for topics of inclusion around LGBTQ concerns, launched a new chapter in Gaithersburg, Md., and participated in Pride festivals across the country.

“The changing criteria for evaluation on the index reflect the ever-evolving LGBTQ landscape and motivate Saint-Gobain to continue to improve our overall employee offerings and raise awareness for issues that are top-of-mind for LGBTQ employees,” said Michael Cahill, Chair, Saint-Gobain North America Diversity and Inclusion Council, and Vice President and General Manager, Saint-Gobain Crystals and NorPro. “We’re proud to bring together diverse ideas and perspectives that ultimately drive our business growth and create a workplace that fosters an underlying sense of belonging.”

For more information on Saint-Gobain’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, please visit www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com/company/culture-and-values/diversity-inclusion.

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About Saint-Gobain in North America
Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions, helps create great living spaces by combining comfort and sustainability. For more than three-and-a-half centuries, Saint-Gobain has been enhancing the wellbeing of people everywhere, whether it’s by addressing climate change, delivering true sustainable development, advancing the information revolution, participating in medical breakthroughs or playing a vital role in space exploration.

In North America, Saint-Gobain has approximately 160 locations and more than 15,500 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $6.5 billion in 2018. Learn more about Saint-Gobain North America by visiting www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com and connect with Saint-Gobain North America on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Press Contacts:
Saint-Gobain in North America
Dina Silver Pokedoff, APR
610-893-5518 (office)
489-919-2103 (mobile)

Brownstein Group for Saint-Gobain in North America
Shari Rosen
267-238-4132 (office)
srosen@brownsteingroup.com

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