KANSAS CITY, Mo.- Hallmark Cards, Inc. is among 407 major U.S. businesses to achieve a perfect 100 percent score on the 2016 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality.

The CEI is an annual survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans. The 2016 CEI rated 1,027 businesses in the report, evaluating the businesses on 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.

Organizations receiving a score of 100 are recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” for LGBT equality.

“Hallmark is honored to have earned a top rating on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index,” said Bob Bloss, Hallmark senior vice president – human resources. “This recognition by the HRC reflects our continued commitment to create an environment in which diversity is embraced and diverse traits are leveraged as strengths, where every employee can perform to his or her potential, and in which his or her contributions are respected and appreciated.”

“In this 2016 Corporate Equality Index, hundreds of major businesses responded to our new standards for workplace equality with exceptional
leadership,” said Deena Fidas, HRC Foundation Workplace Equality Program Director. “Hallmark 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.”