Global, 25 January 2012 - Baker & McKenzie has expanded its employee benefits to provide a tax “gross-up” payment for U.S. personnel with same sex spouses and domestic partners of either gender. Effective January 1, 2012, the change in benefits ensures that employees who are married and/or in domestic partnerships will be treated equally under U.S. federal law.
“We take this step as part of our commitment to our diverse group of employees,” said Ed Burmeister, Chair of the Firm’s International Benefits Committee. “We are proud of our achievements with regard to the LGBT community and we understand that this change to our benefits will make our workplace a more inclusive one.”
For the second consecutive year, Baker & McKenzie was named by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as one of the "Best Places to Work" in the United States for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality. This notable distinction is in recognition of the Firm’s perfect score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation Corporate Equality Index.
“Baker & McKenzie is proud to be recognized as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality,” said Philip Suse, Baker & McKenzie’s North American Managing Partner. "We are pleased to share this honor with our many clients that also received a perfect score of 100, which I think speaks to the many values we share and our common commitment to diversity in the workplace.”
Baker & McKenzie received a perfect score for all the rating criteria measured in the survey, including inclusive equal employment opportunity policies, equal employment benefits, organizational LGBT competency, evidence of a commitment to equality and responsible citizenship.
The HRC is the nation’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBT equality. The HRC seeks to improve the lives of LGBT Americans by advocating for equal rights and benefits in the workplace, ensuring families are treated equally under the law and increasing public support among all Americans through innovative advocacy, education and outreach programs.
Earlier this year, the Firm achieved a prominent ranking in the United Kingdom's Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, which showcases the top employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. Baker & McKenzie ranked among the top 20 of more than 350 entrants in 2012.
In 2011, the Firm was recognized as a Top Law Firm for Diversity by
MultiCultural Law magazine. Baker & McKenzie was also named one of the top law firms for women in the United States in 2011 by the
National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) and the
Flex-Time Lawyers organization.
For more information about Baker & McKenzie’s diversity and inclusion efforts, please see our
2011 Diversity & Inclusion Annual Report.