Panasonic Earns Equality 100 Award in Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2025 Corporate Equality Index

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For second consecutive year, company receives top score in annual assessment measuring LGBTQ+ workplace equality

NEWARK, N.J., Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic Corporation of North America today announced it has received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's (HRCF) 2025 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. This honor marks the second consecutive year Panasonic has been recognized by the HRCF as a leading company for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion in the United States.

This year, Panasonic joined the ranks of 765 companies and businesses in the U.S. to earn the award, the culmination of more than a year-long, employee-led effort to review and bolster programs, training and accountability, and outreach and engagement efforts for LGBTQ+ employees. 

"Ensuring a physically and psychologically safe workplace where every person can thrive is central to Panasonic's commitment to equality in accordance with our founder's vision," said Megan Myungwon Lee, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Corporation of North America. "We continue to strive toward maintaining a workplace where everyone feels safe, valued and empowered to be their authentic self and are honored to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for the second consecutive year for our efforts to implement LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies and foster an inclusive company culture."

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars, including: non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQIA+ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility.

Over the last year, Panasonic expanded coverage for transgender-related health services, integration of intersectionality in professional development and training, and an inclusive restroom policy.

Panasonic's PRISM Business Impact Group, which advocates for an inclusive and safe workplace culture where individuals can thrive in both their professional and personal lives, was instrumental again in driving equity for LGBTQ+ employees. The PRISM group hosted lunch & learn events for all employees, covering a wide array of topics pertaining to LGBTQ+ culture, LGBTQ+ history, diversity in the workplace, financial health, and more. 

Panasonic's Diversity Council also facilitated several external and internal events that highlighted intersectionality, bringing in guest speakers to enrich leadership and development skills for employees. In addition, Panasonic partnered with multiple LGBTQ+ influencers to market products celebrating diversity and the promotion of self-expression, expanded philanthropic efforts with Goodera to aid LGBTQ+ individuals without housing, and sponsored the virtual LGBTQ+ Unity Summit.

In addition, Panasonic continued to implement a supplier diversity policy to ensure that our procurement processes promote inclusion of qualified and certified businesses owned by people of diverse backgrounds and/or underrepresented populations that include minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, LGBTQ-owned and disabled-owned businesses.

"The CEI is so much more than a score on paper. For decades, businesses have relied on the CEI as a tool for transparency and leveling the playing field for all workers, making sure LGBTQ+ people and their families can share in fair, respectful and supportive workplaces and benefits," said RaShawn "Shawnie" Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. "As conversations evolve on corporate America's approach to diversity, equity and inclusion, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that largely recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion. Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking. The work of the CEI is to help businesses to expand their consumer base and attract top, innovative talent by supporting the LGBTQ+ community." 

According to the HRC, the results of the 2025 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2025 CEI surveyed 1,449 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous growth of the CEI. A record-breaking 98 percent of CEI businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity. 

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 22 million U.S. workers and include Fortune magazine's 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses.

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei

About The Human Rights Campaign Foundation
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public's understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

About Panasonic Corporation of North America    
Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is committed to creating a better life and a better world by enabling its customers through innovations in Sustainable Energy, Immersive Entertainment, Integrated Supply Chains and Mobility Solutions. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation. One of Interbrand's Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2023, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. Learn more about Panasonic's ideas and innovations at https://na.panasonic.com/us/.

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SOURCE Panasonic Corporation