Northwestern Mutual Recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as One of the Best Workplaces for LGBT Equality in 2017

Company earns perfect score on HRC Corporate Equality Index for third year in a row

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Dec 08, 2016, 11:29 ET

MILWAUKEE, Dec. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwestern Mutual has earned a perfect score of 100 percent for a third year in the newly released 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) survey, a national benchmarking effort by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

"Earning a perfect CEI score for the third year in a row is a testament to our ongoing commitment to ensuring Northwestern Mutual is the kind of workplace where everyone is treated with equal respect and feels valued for their unique talents and skills," said Tom Guay, Northwestern Mutual vice president and executive sponsor of the company's LGBT Employee Resource Group. "While we are proud to be one of the companies to receive a perfect score in 2017, we look forward to the day when scoring is no longer needed because equality is an intrinsic part of corporate culture everywhere."

The Corporate Equality Index is a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Northwestern Mutual joins the ranks of 517 major U.S. businesses which also earned top marks this year.

The 2017 CEI rated more than 1,000 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. Northwestern Mutual's efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

The 2017 CEI report features:

887 officially rated participants that submitted a completed CEI survey
517 100%-rated participants (Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality)
156 Fortune 500 non-responding companies who have not completed a CEI survey, listed with unofficial scores
647 participants offering transgender-inclusive health care coverage
72 new participants
92% of Fortune 500 companies with sexual orientation workplace protections; 82% with gender identity protections, and half offering transgender-inclusive health care coverage

For more information on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

About Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for nearly 160 years. Our financial representatives build relationships with clients through a distinctive planning approach that integrates risk management with wealth accumulation, preservation and distribution. With $238.5 billion in assets, $27.9 billion in revenues and more than $1.6 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.4 million people who rely on us for insurance and investment solutions, including life, disability income and long-term care insurance; annuities; trust services; mutual funds; and investment advisory products and services. Northwestern Mutual ranks 100 on the 2016 FORTUNE 500, and is recognized by FORTUNE as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2016.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a comprehensive approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, life insurance with long-term care benefits, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company (NMWMC), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC).

SOURCE Northwestern Mutual