Hubbell Incorporated, a Connecticut-based electrical equipment manufacturer,
expanded its comprehensive non-discrimination policy to include gender
identification at the urging of socially responsible portfolio management
company, NorthStar Asset Management, Inc.
The shareholder proposal brought before Hubbell asked the company to amend its
written equal employment opportunity policy to explicitly prohibit
discrimination based on gender identity. Julie Goodridge, President of
Boston-based NorthStar Asset Management, Inc. said, 'Including gender identity
in the company's non-discrimination policy is the first signal a company gives
employees, and potential employees, that it values all its workers equally.'
After Hubbell agreed to amend its policy, NorthStar withdrew the proposal.
At NorthStar's urging, Berkshire Hathaway, Tootsie Roll, Caterpillar, Fifth
Third Bancorp, and Emerson Electric have all amended their non-discrimination
policies to include protections for gay and lesbian employees. 'As investors, we
believe that an open and inclusive workplace nurtures the creativity necessary
to build a successful company,' said Goodridge. In 2006, NorthStar began
requesting the addition of both sexual orientation and gender identity to
non-discrimination policies.
No federal laws exist that protect workers from discrimination based on gender
identity or expression. Eight states plus 93 cities and towns prohibit gender
identity discrimination. Connecticut, home to Hubbell's headquarters, does
prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. However, the law does not
explicitly protect the free expression of gender identity.
The lack of protections in the vast majority of the United States leaves many
workers vulnerable to abuse. Corporations are beginning to fill the void by
including gender identity in their non-discrimination policies.
Nearly 25% of Fortune 500 companies have added gender identity to their
non-discrimination policies, including GM Citigroup, HP, Boeing, CostCo and
Walgreens. Hubbell joins 143 other Fortune 1000 companies that have put in place
equal employment policies with protections for employees' free expression of
gender identity.
NorthStar Asset Management, Inc. is a wealth management firm, based in Boston,
specializing in socially responsible investment.
Reported by:
Margaret J. Covert Shareholder Activism Coordinator NorthStar Asset Management,
Inc. PO Box 301840 Boston, MA 02130 617-522-2635
www.northstarasset.com