J.C. Penney Honored for Inclusion and Diversity

Plano, Texas J.C. Penney Co. has announced that it has earned a perfect score of 100% on the 2009 Corporate Equality Index, released on by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on Tuesday. This is the second consecutive year that the retailer has received a top rating on the index which measures employers on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees and consumers.

"The 2009 Corporate Equality Index shows that corporate America understands that a diverse workforce is critical to remaining successful and competitive," said HRC Foundation president Joe Solmonese. "In the absence of a federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, it is up to employers to take the lead and implement policies that ensure all their employees are protected."