HERSHEY, Pa., Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) announced today that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation's foremost benchmarking report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. Hershey's top marks recognize the company's efforts to foster a supportive, inclusive workplace and provide equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ employees and their families.

"We strive every day to create a more equitable world with a focused effort to create an inclusive culture for LGBTQ+ employees," said Alicia Petross, Chief Diversity Officer of The Hershey Company. "Corporate action – including Hershey's efforts in this space – is crucial to advancing real change. It's an honor to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation alongside such notable honorees. Together, we can work to push the needle in the right direction and be true allies to the LGBTQ+ community."

The diversity of Hershey's workforce serves as a foundation of strength, innovation and collaboration. The company's LGBTQ+ business resource group (BRG), PRISM, is one of eight affinity communities within Hershey that play a critical role in attracting and retaining people from different backgrounds, providing business insights and connecting our employees across the company. Empowered by PRISM, Hershey's has made dedicated efforts to continue to support its LGBTQ+ community including:

• Expanding Pride Day to Pride Month in Hershey, Pa. by proudly flying the rainbow flag atop the Hershey corporate headquarters, and lighting the company's iconic smokestacks and cocoa bushes in rainbow colors to honor employees and the community
• Increasing the use of pronouns in signature blocks, demonstrating awareness and support for LGBTQ individuals and allies across the company's employee, vendor and key customer bases
• Ensuring all required U.S. training materials include issues important to the LGBTQ community, such harassment or discrimination scenarios.

The CEI rates employers providing crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million abroad. This year's CEI reflects growth across every measurement category, from the adoption of inclusive non-discrimination policies, including:

• Non-discrimination policies across business entities;
• Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families;
• Supporting an inclusive culture; and,
• Corporate social responsibility.

"We are proud that the Corporate Equality Index has paved the way for countless LGBTQ+ workers in America and abroad. But there is still more to do, which is why we are raising the bar yet again to create more equitable workplaces and a better tomorrow for LGBTQ+ workers everywhere," said Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Programs, Research and Training.

The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.

About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people, and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 17,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 90 brands around the world that drive more than $8.1 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat®, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate's Booty. For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically, and sustainably.  Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed.

About The Human Rights Campaign Foundation
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.

SOURCE The Hershey Company