------ NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE POLICY INSTITUTE 1734 14th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20009 (202) 332-6483/FAX (202) 332-0207 TTY (202) 332-6219/lob_ngltf@aol.com NGLTF RELEASES FORTUNE 1000 SURVEY Results To Provide Baseline To Measure Corporate America's Progress in Providing An Equal Workplace for Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Employees Cupertino, California -- (October 15, 1993) -- The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute released the results of a survey of Fortune 1000 companies which establishes a baseline reading of the quality of work life for gay men and lesbians in corporate America. While many companies include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policies, the results reveal that American companies have a long way to go in ensuring that gay and lesbian employees are treated equally in the workplace. "The results of this survey are in effect a corporate report card and, while there are a few companies with high marks, the majority of the Fortune 1000 are flunking," said Chris Collins, NGLTF Board Co-chair. "We know that much of the real progress in making the workplace a more hospitable environment for gay men and lesbians has been pioneered by firms that are not part of the Fortune 1000. It has been the little 'Davids' rather than the 'Goliath's" of corporate America that have led the way." Of the Fortune 1000 companies sampled, 243 responded to the survey (approximately 25%). These responses included 98 completed surveys (approximately 10%) and 145 refusals to complete the survey (approximately 14.5%), presented either in writing or during follow-up phone calls. On preliminary review, there is no discernible pattern with regard to the types of companies that chose to participate or, conversely, made a specific announcement they would not participate. Roughly three-fourths (71.9%) of participants have a non-discrimination policy that includes sexual orientation. Three additional companies indicated they do not currently have but are considering instituting such a policy. Five participating companies (5.6%of total participants) have domestic partner benefits for the same-sex partners of their employees, including medical and dental coverage, child care benefits, family/persona/sick leave (partner care), and bereavement leave. Over half (58.4%) of participating companies include issues related to sexual orientation in their diversity training programs. Three-fourths (76.4%) of participating companies recognize employee-organized groups. Of these, 31% recognize gay/lesbian/bisexual employee groups, meaning that fewer than one quarter (21.3%) of the 98 participating companies recognize gay/lesbian/bisexual employee groups. 70.8% of participants provide some form of support for individuals with HIV/AIDS. "NGLTF intends to conduct this survey annually to monitor the progress of American companies toward creating safe, hospitable, and non-discriminatory work environments for gay and lesbian employees," said Peri Jude Radecic, who becomes executive director of NGLTF on November 1. "We encourage gay and lesbian employees of companies which did not respond or chose not to participate with this survey to help with the process of sensitizing these corporations to the concerns of their lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees," said Elizabeth Birch, NGLTF's Board Co-Chair. - 30 -