IKEA US Receives Notable Score of 90 in the 2015 Corporate Equality Index

Recognition Honors Diverse IKEA US Co-worker Population

(Conshohocken, PA - November 19, 2014) IKEA US is pleased to announce today it has received  a score of 90 on the 2015 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. This national benchmark survey reports on corporate policies and practices relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality.

The CEI IKEA ranking clearly demonstrates and measures the success of the IKEA Group’s values based on the principle that every co-worker can expect fair treatment and equal employment opportunities without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, disability, age or sexual orientation. 

Here are some highlights of IKEA programs which benefit the LGBT community:

• Starting in 1995, IKEA extends benefits coverage to spouses and domestic partners. These benefits include: health/medical, dental, vision, dependent coverage, COBRA, FMLA, bereavement, relocation/travel assistance, adoption benefits, employee discount, employee-assistance/work-life program  
• In 2010, IKEA further extends benefits to domestic partners for supplemental life insurance.  
• IKEA provides pre-tax benefits for same sex married couples. IKEA recognizes a license or certificate of marriage from any state or country which recognizes same sex marriages, no matter where they may live in the US.
• IKEA iWay (Supplier Code of Conduct) states suppliers shall not discriminate with regard to workers based on race, religion, gender, marital or maternal status, age, political affiliation, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or any other basis.

• IKEA has been active in media with LGBT ad messaging since 1993 when it ran a TV ad featuring a gay couple. In 2006, a TV ad featured a multi-cultural, two-dad family. In 2008, the “IKEA Muse” tells a lady to go out and meet the partner of her choice (male or female). And in 2014, the IKEA Home Tour broadcast showed a revamp of the space of a gay couple in the Bronx.

“IKEA is a company where diversity and inclusion are part of our everyday business. Every co-worker is valued and respected; and we meet our customers, develop our co-workers, and cooperate with our business partners with these values. We are very pleased we received the Corporate Equality Index score of 90. This shows our commitment to integrating diversity and inclusion into all of our business practices,” commented Jacqueline DeChamps, Head of IKEA US Human Resources.

"The Corporate Equality Index is the gold standard of LGBT inclusion in the workplace, and when companies take part it shows they are making a real commitment to treating their LGBT employees with equality and respect. No one should have to worry about being treated fairly on the job, especially on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and the CEI shows that, year after year, more and more companies are creating truly welcoming workplaces for all,” commented HRC President Chad Griffin. The 2015 CEI rated a total of 972 businesses in the report, which evaluates 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. For more information on the 2015 Corporate Equality Index, go to www.hrc.org/cei.

Mona Astra Liss, Corporate PR Director, Mona.Liss@IKEA.com, 610.834.0180 ext. 5852

About IKEA Group

The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Our business idea supports this vision by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. There are currently 315 IKEA Group stores in 27 countries. Additionally, there are 40 IKEA stores run by franchises. There are 40 IKEA stores in the US. In FY 14, IKEA Group had 716 million visitors to the stores and 1.5 billion visitors to IKEA.com.  IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, please visit www.IKEA.com, facebook.com/IKEAUSA,  @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA, http://pinterest.com/IKEAUSA/, www.youtube.com/IKEAUSA,  www.theshare-space.com, www.theshare-space.com/en/Blog

About Human Rights Campaign

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

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