TDS Telecom named ‘Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality’
TDS receives a perfect score in back-to-back years on Corporate Equality Index
MADISON, Wisconsin -- TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS®) received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) and received the designation of being a 2022 “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.” TDS joins more than 840 major U.S. businesses that also earned the top rating this year. This is TDS Telecom’s second year participating in the survey and its second perfect score.
CEI is a national benchmarking tool that measures policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) employees. The survey is administered by the HRC Foundation.
“We are pleased to be recognized for our corporate commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said VP and Chief Human Resources Officer Kathy Cefalu. “We recognize that we must continue to broaden our efforts to develop a workforce that genuinely represents the communities we serve.”
According to HRC, to earn top ratings, employers must show they have taken concrete steps to establish and implement policies, benefits, and practices that ensure greater equity for LGBTQ+ workers and their families. This is the 20th-anniversary edition of the CEI, which included more than 1,200 participants.
The 2022 CEI report evaluates non-discrimination policies across business entities, equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families, supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility.
TDS is one of 36 members of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce that received the perfect score. By being a member of the chamber, including a same-sex couple in a commercial, and by targeting some of our recruiting efforts at LGBTQ+ virtual career fairs and job board postings, TDS earned the highest score possible in outreach and representation. In addition, TDS has a corporate social responsibility and philanthropy policy to prohibit philanthropic support to any organizations that have a written policy of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.
TDS also requires all new associates to attend two web-based trainings that clearly state our non-discrimination policy includes sexual orientation. Providing equal benefits for same and different-sex spouses and transgender-inclusive health care coverage also contributed to this high rating for TDS.
“We are so appreciative of the work that is done by our 2BU Associate Resource Group. The group fosters a sense of community within and outside of TDS by valuing differences, providing an inclusive and safe environment, and helping LGBTQ+ employees succeed,” said Cefalu.
TDS is pleased to join UScellular, who has earned a score of 100 on the CEI for the last four years.
For more information on the 2022 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit https://reports.hrc.org/corporate-equality-index-2022.
