For LGBT employees, Hershey Co. among best places to work in Pa., survey shows

The Hershey Co. has earned the distinction of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality."

Hershey was one of 32 companies in Pennsylvania that ranked with top marks in the 2014 Corporate Equality Index report by the Human Rights Campaign. The advocacy group each year releases the report, which is based on the companies answers to a survey. It ranks the companies'  corporate policies and workplace practices towards gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees.

Among central Pennsylvania companies, Hershey, which was given a score of 100, was joined by Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., and Rite Aid Corp. York-based Bon-Ton was given a score of 90. Rite Aid, which has its headquarters in Camp Hill, came in with a score of 60.

"We are thrilled with The Hershey Company's ranking of 100 on the 2015 HRC Corporate Equity Index.  Hershey celebrates, encourages and promotes diversity and inclusion," said Alicia Petross, senior director, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement. "Our core belief is that the diversity of our employees' perspectives, backgrounds and experiences is our greatest strength as a company."

The Hershey Co., which has long extended same-sex partner benefits to employees, among equitable workplace practices, this year improved its score over last year's. The company last year ranked with a score of 85.

"Companies in America realize that treating their LGBT employees well and encouraging LGBT clients and customers makes sense. It's just good business," said Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania. "For the Hershey company, I say congratulations to them. 100 is a good thing. They understand the world and they are reacting in a good way."

In total, 781 companies were officially rated in the report, up from 734 last year. The report also unofficially rated 190 Fortune 500 companies that have yet to respond to the survey. The average score for Pennsylvania-based companies and law firms is 84 percent. Of the 32 companies ranked, 11 earned 100 percent, 11 earned 90 percent or above, and one earned 80 percent or above.

"When it comes to LGBT equality, corporate America is a leader, not a follower," said Chad Griffin, president of the HRC. "At every turn, from advocating for marriage equality to providing vital support for transgender employees, this country's leading companies have asked, 'what more can we do?,' and they've worked tirelessly to achieve new progress. That kind of leadership changes countless lives around this country, and sets an important example to other companies around the globe."

Pennsylvania this year saw seismic changes towards gay rights. In the wake of last year's U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down federal ban to gay marriage, a federal judge in Harrisburg in May ruled that Pennsylvania's gay marriage law was unconstitutional. The ruling gave thousands of gay and lesbian couples across the state broad equal rights regarding marriage, home ownership and taxes, for instance.

Gay rights advocates, however, have longed battled for broader equal rights protection under the law for the LGBT community.

Pennsylvania may have legalized gay marriage, but it lags in protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Pennsylvania has a statewide non-discrimination law but it does not include sexual orientation or gender identity.

"Pennsylvania remains one of the states in the country where you can legally marry but still be fired from the job," Martin said. "It's not a great message."

According to Equality Pennsylvania, 34 municipalities, including Harrisburg, York and Lancaster, have non-discrimination ordinances. Susquehanna Township is among the townships included in that roster.

In places without those protections, a gay person can be fired - without recourse - for having a photograph of his or her same-sex spouse.

Martin said that providing equitable workplace policies and practices was just sound business sense.

"It is a struggle and can be a struggle to get qualified employees here when you can still be evicted and denied accommodation," he said. "I  think companies are smart. They have to go the extra mile to bring employees here because the Legislature is lagging behind."

Of Rite-Aid's score of 60, Martin said: "Get with the program. If you want qualified employees and loyal customers, you need to up your game."

UPDATE: This story was updated to include comment from The Hershey Co.

Below is the list of Pennsylvania companies ranked in the survey.