Lilly Recognized as One of the Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality

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Dec 14, 2011, 10:00 ET

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth consecutive year, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) has received a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality in the workplace.

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Lilly is one of only 190 companies to receive the perfect score among 638 U.S. businesses rated this year and has been named to the organization's "Best Places to Work" list. Forty-four percent fewer companies received a perfect score this year due to stricter requirements introduced for 2012.

"It is truly an honor to be recognized among the top companies in the nation for our commitment to inclusiveness among our employees," said Shaun Hawkins, chief diversity officer. "At Lilly, we believe it is vitally important to attract and retain exceptional employees who feel comfortable in a culture that supports them being themselves."

The HRC is the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization and its CEI has become the foremost benchmark for businesses to gauge their level of LGBT workplace inclusion against competitors.

The CEI rates companies on 40 specific policies and practices, 32 of which are new or more demanding this year. To achieve a perfect score, companies must have fully inclusive equal employment opportunity policies, provide equal employment benefits, demonstrate organizational LGBT competency, evidence their commitment to equality publicly and exercise responsible citizenship. The CEI report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers – through medicines and information – for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.

About HRC Foundation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of 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. C-LLY

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company