Discover Earns Top Score in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index Ten Years in a Row

By: Discover Financial Services via Business Wire

December 05, 2023 at 10:00 AM EST

For the tenth straight year, Discover has earned a perfect 100 score and is a recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion by the Human Rights Campaign’s Annual Corporate Equality Index, a benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Discover joins the ranks of more than 545 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

"At Discover, we are on a journey to create an environment where every employee feels included and can bring the best version of themselves to work,” said Jonita Wilson, chief diversity & social impact officer. “A diverse and inclusive workplace ultimately leads to better business outcomes through innovation, efficiency, and culture, and a brighter financial future for all.”

Discover has eight Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). The ERGs contribute to each pillar by providing access, opportunity, and exposure for our diverse employee populations. Specifically, Pride is the employee resource group focusing on Discover’s LGBTQ+ community.

Through the work of Pride, Discover strives to create and advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusive practices in the workplace and society, including:

Joining more than 500 companies in support of the Equality Act, which would provide clear and consistent protections from discrimination for the LGBTQ community. This bill extends to protections in the workplace, which Discover is committed to providing for employees.
Creating the Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Diverse Employee Advisory Council, made up of more than 70 employees who cultivate a safe space to bring perspectives of the gender diverse employee community.
Supporting gender diverse employees by creating a gender transition toolkit, a transition advocate group and transgender and gender non-binary training through the DE&I team.
Partnering with Out & Equal to provide development, programming, and consulting for the LGBTQ+ community.
Removing the lifetime cap of $75,000 on gender transition-related coverage for employees enrolled in a Discover medical plan.

“For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion,” said RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. “Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool – a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families.”

For more information about Discover’s culture, diversity efforts and benefits, visit https://jobs.discover.com/.

For more information on the 2023 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

About the Human Rights Campaign

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 Discover

Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover® card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network® comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchants and cash access locations; PULSE®, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International®, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company.