United Airlines Earns Top Honor From Equality Illinois
United Airlines named 2013 Business Leader for LGBT Policies
United Airlines has earned the 2013 Business Leadership Award from Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. The award is given annually to a business that demonstrates vision and leadership in the effort to achieve full equality for LGBT individuals in Illinois.
“United is a global company, and the richness of our different backgrounds, cultures, experiences and ideas brings enormous value to us,” said Jeff Smisek, chairman, president and CEO of United. “We value inclusion and diversity in our business and in our lives, and it’s important that we take time to celebrate this. On behalf of my more than 85,000 co-workers, we accept this award proudly.”
“From its Illinois headquarters, United Airlines sets a high standard for the entire industry of embracing fairness and diversity. The company consistently leads the corporate world in LGBT workplace equality, and we are proud to honor their work with the Business Leadership Award,” said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois.
United is committed to creating a work environment where all its employees across the world feel included and empowered to make a measurable difference in its success. United offers policies, programs, benefits, privileges and recognition designed to reward and support the success of its diverse workforce. The airline is equally committed to its multicultural community sponsorships as well as supplier diversity initiatives.
In 2012, for the fifth consecutive year, United received a 100 percent rating in the 2013 Corporate Equality Index, an annual survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which ranks top companies and law firms based on their LGBT policies.