Bayer Continues to Earn Top Marks in 2021 Corporate Equality Index

Bayer earns 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s annual assessment and is recognized as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality

WHIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For the fourth consecutive year, Bayer U.S. obtained a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Managed by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the CEI is a leading benchmarking report that measures and accounts for the corporate procedures relating to LGBTQ workplace equality.

“It is such an honor to be recognized for our Inclusion & Diversity efforts by the Human Rights Campaign,” said Patrick Lockwood-Taylor, President of Bayer U.S. “Earning a perfect score for the fourth year in a row in the Corporate Equality Index, such a profound and reputable report, showcases and reflects our initiative of embracing and encouraging our employee’s unique identities. Bayer’s commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, culture strengthens us both as individuals and a company.”

Bayer continues to pursue and cultivate an inclusive, diverse, and equal work climate, resulting in innovative developments and achievements. Internally, Bayer offers equal benefits, resource groups, trainings and education for all. Through outreach and engagement efforts like the St. Louis and Pittsburgh Pride Fest, LGBT+ career fairs, press releases on legislation decisions, and social media campaigns for observances like National Pride Day, Bayer’s support of this community extends externally and continues to be fostered.

Business Resource Groups (BRGs) have consistently contributed to Bayer’s Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) efforts. Promoting diversity, awareness, and I&D education, employee volunteers work together to form a lasting inclusive environment. Focusing on the lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual and transgender community, Bayer’s employee resource group, BLEND, ensures a healthy and supportive workplace for all. With the motivation that everyone has the right to be themselves in the workplace, the LGBT+ community is continually supported and impacted through this resource group.

“To achieve another 100% rating on HRC’s CEI is a great success for Bayer and highlights our organization’s long-standing commitment to fostering LGBT+ workplace equality,” says Bonnie Finger and Frankie Stubbins, BLEND’s U.S. Co-Leads for Bayer. “Continued support of the BLEND BRG by leadership and members has facilitated policy, practice and benefit updates, enabled delivery of ally engagement training, provided opportunities for local community outreach and public support for LGBT+ equality under law. This rating, though, does not symbolize that the work is done; BLEND remains dedicated to continue working to preserve the inclusive culture for LGBT+ employees at Bayer.”

The 2021 CEI assesses each organization within five extensive categories, including non-discrimination policies and practices, equitable employment benefits, supporting an inclusive culture, and public engagement with the LGBTQ community. By earning a perfect score, Bayer, one of 767 businesses, fulfilled all categories and moves forward as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.

“From the previously unimaginable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to a long overdue reckoning with racial injustice, 2020 was an unprecedented year. Yet, many businesses across the nation stepped up and continued to prioritize and champion LGBTQ equality,” said Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President. “This year has shown us that tools like the CEI are crucial in the work to increase equity and inclusion in the workplace, but also that companies must breathe life into these policies and practices in real and tangible ways.”

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

For more information on the 2021 Corporate Equality index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2019, the Group employed around 104,000 people and had sales of 43.5 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.9 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.