MINNEAPOLIS – October 2, 2003 – NCR Corporation and
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies both received a prestigious "Outie" Award
today from Out & Equal Workplace Advocates for advancing a
safe and equitable workplace for LGBT professionals.
Other recipients of the "Outie" Awards presented this
evening during the gala dinner at the 13th Annual Out & Equal
Workplace Summit include Wesley Combs, president of Witeck-Combs
Communication, Judy Boyette, associate vice president of human
resources and benefits at the University of California, and the
SC Johnson Gay and Lesbian Business Council (GLBC).
The winners were chosen from dozens of nominees, which were narrowed
down to 17 finalists — seven companies, six individuals,
and four employee resource groups.
"We were inspired by the wonderful work that so many people
are doing in the world of business, medicine, academia and government." said
Greg Moore, chair of the Awards Committee. "We had a very
difficult job in deciding which nominees to pass onto our judges.
But after much deliberation and review, the winners began to emerge."
And the winners are...
Out & Equal Award for Workplace
Excellence
For any employer that has an historic and ongoing commitment to
civil rights for LGBT employees in their own workplace and beyond.
This employer has a history of continually raising the bar of workplace
equality for others to follow.
2003 Workplace Excellence Award Winner
NCR Corporation
Two distinct points highlight the uniqueness of NCR. HRC's 2002 "State
of the Workplace" report identifies fifteen companies that
address "gender identity" in their EEO statement. NCR
is the only company in this list that does not offer a product
purchased by the average consumer. Combine that unique status with
NCR's domestic partner benefits program and EEO statement "sexual
orientation" language, and NCR becomes a leading LGBT employer
in the "business to business" industry. NCR's continued
sponsorship, starting in 1998, of a national LGBT workplace conference
showcases the company's support of safe, equitable workplaces for
LGBT employees.
Out & Equal Award for Significant Achievement
For any employer that has made significant strides in advancing
a fair and equitable workplace for its LGBT employees during the
previous year such as: announcing domestic partner benefits, contributing
to a community organization or initiating a unique advertising
campaign.
2003 Significant Achievement Award Winner
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
Chubb provided significant support to the company's Gay & Lesbian
Employee Network (GLEN) by providing sponsorship and executive
presence at the company's first Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference,
held in conjunction with the 2002 Out & Equal Workplace Summit.
To accomplish this task, a communications program was developed
to inform senior leadership of the upcoming event, and to gain
their commitment to support their staff members' attendance. Chubb's
Chairman and CEO gave the keynote address at the conference. As
a result of the Leadership Conference, 6 committees were formed
to drive initiatives forward. Those committees include: Education,
Visibility, Legislation, Marketing, LGBT Consumer, Event Sponsorship
(external), and LGBT Event Planning (internal).
Out & Equal
Employee Resource Group of the Year
For a particular employee resource group that has a proven track
record of success in advocating for LGBT equal rights in its own
workplace and in the community at large.
2003 Employee Resource Group of the Year Winner
SC Johnson
SC Johnson's GLBC has helped SCJ build its reputation as "a
family company" with the courage to define family as broadly
as its employees and the LGBT community. SC Johnson: SC Johnson
has added Gender Identity and Expression to all 3 SCJ non-discrimination
policies, rolled out LGBT training at plants in a 3 phase plan.
Phase 1 – taught 5 Gay 101/201 courses to 100 mid-senior
level plant managers. Phase 2 – sponsored Mindy Morrow of
Productivity, LLC to conduct an LGBT action workshop with these
same plant managers. And Phase 3 – initiated communication
from senior management at quarterly meetings for all 3 plant floor
shifts on The Power of an Inclusive Environment. Additionally,
SC Johnson also sponsored the 5th Annual Gay Awareness Week; and
distributed the 4th Annual National Coming Out Day flyer to employees
featuring straight allies.SEA Shell – The gay and lesbian
employee group at Shell Oil Co., has raised the company's profile
and citizenship in the LGBT community. SEA Shell along with their
Executive Advisory Board met with the Houston area United Way President
to discuss the Boy Scouts issue. They encouraged Shell's CEO to
endorse ENDA and testify in favor of the bill before a Senate panel.
Shell's CEO was also the keynote speaker at Houston's HRC Dinner.
Out & Equal Trailblazer Award
For an LGBT person who has made a significant contribution to
advancing workplace equality. This individual's activities will
have made a marked improvement in their own workplace or have contributed
to equality nationally.
2003 Trailblazer Award Winner
Wesley Combs, President of Witeck-Combs Communications
Wesley Combs is unique in his experience because he is truly one
of the trailblazers, earning confidence of senior corporate executives,
speaking in their language, using market intelligence and research
to give them confidence that fairness and inclusiveness are winning
business strategies. He was one of the earliest experts in the
field, and has helped teach many companies and their ERG leadership,
by example, how to translate their objectives into savvy marketing
strategies. He is a champion of the win-win approach to inclusion
for all LGBT employees.
Out & Equal Champion for Workplace Equality
Award
For a non-LGBT person who has played a pivotal role in championing
equal treatment of LGBT employees on the job. This individual will
have shown a unique commitment to LGBT workplace rights and will
have used his or her talents to further that cause, even at some
risk.
2003 Champion Award Winner
Judy Boyette, Associate Vice President, HR & Benefits,
University of California
The moment Judy arrived at the University of California in 1997
as "czarina" for human resources at its ten campuses,
five medical centers, and three labs, she committed herself to
equal benefits for UC's 170,000 employees-a brave and astonishing
thing for a new arrival to do. Over the next several years, working
with UC's LGBT organizations, she placed UC at the very forefront
of U.S. employers in terms of equal benefits. Thanks to her skillful
and visionary work, UC (which already offered equal health benefits)
has equalized retirement benefits for same-sex couples, equalized
sick leave and FMLA policies for same-sex couples, equalized all
other benefits vis-a-vis same-sex couples, and extended health
benefits to transgender employees.
Download the 2003
Outie Awards press release [PDF, 128KB].
