Employee Resource Groups

GLBT EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS are an important catalyst as corporations continue along the path of creating inclusive workplaces and also as these businesses continue to explore the GLBT market segment.Beyond having a profound influence inside their companies these groups also reach out to support our community. These employees achieve amazing things for their companies and frankly for all of us primarily because their employers encourage and empower them to bring their whole selves to work. There are many great companies with amazing employee groups in Minnesota and we'd like to put the spotlight on two that we're especially proud of.

Best Buy: PRIDE (People Respecting Individual Differences Equally)

Accomplishments and Honors include:

100% on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Equality Index and Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality
HRC Buyer's Guide 2006 and 2007 recommends Best Buy as the "Place to Shop" for GLBT customers
Twin Cities Pride Corporate Achievement Award, 2004 and 2006
Sponsored and/or supported Twin Cities Pride, HRC Dinner, Gay Games VII, Out and Equal Workplace Summit, Workplace Alliance Pride Power breakfasts, Minnesota Out Campus Conference, Alphabet Soup, AIDS Walk, MAP, the Aliveness Project, Open Arms, OutFront Minnesota, Rainbow Families, DIVA MN
Provided mentorship to Minneapolis Public School Gay-Straight Alliance club members
Presented at National GLBT Conferences on multiple topics including "Being out in the workplace" and the Domestic Partner Health Tax Equity Act.
Led the efforts to get other businesses to sign on to the Business Coalition for Tax Equity, a national business coalition to support the elimination of inequitable taxation for domestic partners.
Provides educational opportunities within their company on topics like GLBT history, how to support transgender employees
Quorum Cornerstone Membership at the Local Luminary level

The Ernst & Young Network for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies: bEYond

In three short years bEYond has been actively making a difference at Ernst & Young. Their efforts have focused on raising internal and external awareness and promoting inclusiveness for LGBT people, family and allies.

Accomplishments and Honors include:

100% HRC Corporate Equality Index and Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality. The first Big Four professional services firm to achieve 100%.
Diversity Top 50 Companies for Diversity and Top 10 Companies for GLBT employees.
Leveraged GLBTA focused career events - MBA Reaching Out program and CandidateFive recruiting fairs
Sponsored or supported nationally; HRC, Gay Games, Out and Equal, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Continues to elevate GLBTA employees in their internal inclusiveness by providing awareness, training, and resources such as their Workplace Gender Transition Guidelines
Promoted their successes with a GLBT ad campaign started in OUT magazine, highlighting support that Ernst & Young has shown GLBT individuals in the business environment
Improved Domestic Partner benefits and promoted better understanding of them
Included GLBT in Ernst & Young's Supplier Diversity program to show support to GLBT-owned businesses.
Member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and the Quorum Cornerstone, Local Luminary level.