Rural Sourcing Among Top LGBTQ-Friendly Employers in Corporate Equality Index

This is Rural Sourcing’s first year on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s annual assessment of LGBTQ+ workplace equality

January 27, 2022 (ATLANTA) – Rural Sourcing, the leading provider of onshore outsourced digital engineering, was placed on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Rural Sourcing joins the ranks of 1,271 major U.S. businesses that were also ranked in the 2022 CEI.

“Fostering acceptance and inclusion has been and always will be a priority at Rural Sourcing,” said Ingrid Curtis, President at Rural Sourcing. “Our Rainbow Colleague Resource Group has been exceptional at helping us ensure that LGBTQ+-focused initiatives are an important part of our culture. Being included on the Corporate Equality Index is a strong indication of the great organization we strive to be with their support.”

In the past year, Rural Sourcing has made many strides in the areas of Equity, Inclusion & Diversity (EI&D). The company has increased the proportion of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) colleagues by 60% and women colleagues by 25%.  Four Colleague Resource Groups were formed to create a space for open and honest dialogue throughout the organization: Rainbow, Women’s, Veterans and Black Voices. Specialized colleague mentoring, a diversity certificate program for executives and leadership development programs for diverse colleagues were also introduced. Additionally, Rural Sourcing hired its first Chief People Officer to further drive EI&D efforts.

“When the Human Rights Campaign Foundation created the Corporate Equality Index 20 years ago, we dreamed that LGBTQ+ workers—from the factory floor to corporate headquarters, in big cities and small towns—could have access to the policies and benefits needed to thrive and live life authentically,” said Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Programs, Research and Training. “We are proud that the Corporate Equality Index paved the way to that reality for countless LGBTQ+ workers in America and abroad. But there is still more to do, which is why we are raising the bar yet again to create more equitable workplaces and a better tomorrow for LGBTQ+ workers everywhere.”

The results of the 2022 CEI showcase how 1,271 U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but also for the 56% of CEI-rated companies with global operations who are helping advance the cause of LGBTQ+ inclusion in workplaces abroad. In 2002, the first year of the CEI, only 13 companies achieved a top-score, demonstrating the incredible impact the CEI has had on the business world over the past 20 years. This year’s CEI reflects growth across every measurement category, from the adoption of inclusive non-discrimination policies, to equitable healthcare benefits for transgender employees.

The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million outside of the U.S. Companies rated in the CEI 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 CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

• Non-discrimination policies across business entities;
• Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;
• Supporting an inclusive culture; and,
• Corporate social responsibility.

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 Sparq

Sparq is a leading provider of outsourced digital engineering to design, build and deploy digital applications, products and experiences. Sparq’s unique U.S.-led, blended onshore/nearshore delivery model maximizes cost effectiveness, clear communication and the ability to quickly scale. Scrum-as-a-Service®, Sparq’s unique engagement framework for Agile digital product engineering, provides rapid and flexible deployment of multidisciplinary teams via an elastic consumption model and predictable monthly pricing. The company provides world-class solutions for technology-driven and Fortune 1000 clients across various industries including Logistics and Transportation, Healthcare, Financial Services and Insurance, Manufacturing and High-Tech. For more information, please visit www.teamsparq.com.

Media Contact

Tyler Pearson
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tyler@high-iron.com