WASHINGTON -- Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) launched the fifth annual HRC Equidad CL: Programa Global de Equidad Laboral. Implemented in partnership with Fundación Iguales and with the support of Pride Connection Chile, the survey evaluates LGBTI+ workplace inclusion within major Chilean businesses and multinationals. This year, 57 organizations earned the maximum score in the 2023 HRC Equidad CL report, and the total number of participating companies has increased from last year’s total of 135 to 157, reflecting a growing commitment in Chile to creating LGBTI+ inclusive policies and practices in their workplaces. The HRC Foundation’s work in Chile impacts more than 315,000 employees working for inclusive employers nationwide. LGBTI+ affirming policies are a win-win: workers can achieve their full potential and employers reaffirm their commitment to treating all employees with dignity and respect.

The HRC Equidad CL program is modeled after HRC’s Corporate Equality Index–the premier LGBTQ+ workplace equality benchmarking survey in the U.S. Top-scoring companies lead the way on LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity, and earn the HRC Foundation’s designation of “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality” or in Chile “Mejores Lugares para Trabajar LGBTI+ 2023” for their commitment to creating inclusive workplaces for LGBTI+ employees.

The groundbreaking progress and overall success of HRC’s Equidad CL are reflected in the rapidly-growing number of companies participating in the survey–and achieving top ratings for LGBTI+ workplace equality. In the survey’s inaugural year, 15 companies in Chile earned top ratings. That number increased to 20 in the 2020 survey, 28 for the 2021 survey, and 57 for 2022. It remained at 57 in 2023 due to a shift in scoring, since the 2023 survey allotted points to the education and training pillar, specifically during the onboarding of new employees.

HRC Equidad CL seeks to continue to expand this network of inclusive employers throughout Chile and beyond - notably, 39% of companies participating in Equidad CL are also participating in other HRCF Workplace Equality Programs (either in the United States, Mexico, Argentina, or Brazil).

This year’s HRC Equidad CL Report assessed major Chilean businesses and multinational companies on several core pillars of LGBTI+ inclusion:

• Adoption of non-discrimination policies

• Creation of employee resource groups or diversity and inclusion councils

• LGBTI+ training and education

• Engagement in public activities to support LGBTI+ inclusion

• Initiatives with an LGBTI+ focus that are not obligatory through a legal framework

“We are thrilled with the incredible work being done in corporate spaces to promote equality in Chile,” said RaShawn Hawkins, Director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program. “We are committed to raising the bar to ensure that workplaces throughout Chile and beyond create a safe work environment where employees are empowered to maximize their potential.”

“Every year, more and more employers join our program to learn best practices for LGBTI+ inclusion in the workplace. It fills us with pride to see that the number of participating companies is increasing, as well as, an increase in the indicators that reflect that workspaces are becoming more inclusive places,” said Emilio Maldonado, Implementing Partner for HRC Equidad CL.

Through the CEI, Equidad CL, Equidad MX (Mexico), Equidad AR (Argentina), and Equidade BR (Brazil) programs, and other HRC Foundation initiatives, our work reaches more than 30.6 million employees worldwide by promoting LGBTQ+-inclusive policies, practices, and benefits. These efforts complement the HRC Foundation’s Global Partnerships program, which supports the work of organizations and leaders throughout the world that advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ people.

A full list of honorees is available here. For more information on HRC’s Workplace Equality Program in Chile, please visit hrc.im/EquidadCL or email equidadcl@hrc.org.

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.

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