Coty earns high score on 2021 U.S. Corporate Equality Index

NEW YORK – Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY), one of the world’s leading beauty companies and the global leader in fragrances, scored highly in its first appearance on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index: the foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality in the U.S.

With a debut score of 85%, Coty joins more than 1,000 major U.S. businesses also ranked in the 2021 report for their efforts to improve workplace equality for LGBTQ employees. Coty scored positively for its transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage, inclusive benefits for same- and different-sex spouses and partners, robust set of practices to support organizational LGBTQ diversity competency and demonstrated public commitment to the LGBTQ community.

“As we reflect on this milestone, we are committed to continuing our journey to create an even more inclusive and diverse culture - not just in the U.S. but across our organization and industry. We believe that beauty should be fearlessly kind, challenging old-fashioned stereotypes and celebrating diversity in ways that give people the confidence to be themselves,” said Andrew Stanleick, Executive Vice President, Coty Americas. “We are committed to delivering a working environment in which every associate feels free and proud to be themselves, and where everyone has the support and tools to achieve their full potential. We look forward to enhancing our approach in the year ahead, including introducing new LGBTQ-inclusive policies, practices and enhanced training for all employees.’’

“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, President, Human Rights Campaign. “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. Thank you to the companies that understand protecting their LGBTQ employees and consumers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do—but the best business decision.”

Participating in the Corporate Equality Index is the most recent example of Coty’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. The company has recently named a female majority Board of Directors, complementing the already female-majority Executive Committee. It has also formalized diversity and inclusion within its Remuneration and Nomination Committee Charter, established a DEI Council supported by new employee-led resource groups in key markets, and published progress on DE&I targets.

The CEI rates employers providing crucial protections to over 18 million U.S. workers and an additional 17 million outside of the U.S. Companies are rated on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars:

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

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