ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has named Monsanto Company one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality.” The distinction comes with the St. Louis-based company earning a top score of 100 percent on the HRC’s annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The CEI measures how equitable large private businesses treat their lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees, consumers and investors. Monsanto is one of only 304 major businesses across all U.S. industries to receive the coveted perfect score and the only Fortune 1000 company headquartered in St. Louis to receive a rating of 100 percent.

“We congratulate Monsanto for earning a 100 percent on the 2014 Corporate Equality Index and designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality four years in a row,” said Deena Fidas, Director of the Workplace Equality Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

The CEI has become the gold standard for corporate policies and practices related to LGBT employees and their families. The CEI rates companies on 40 such principles and procedures with the HRC Foundation using the Fortune 1000 and American Lawyer magazine’s top 200 revenue grossing law firms (the AmLaw 200) as a basis for inviting businesses to participate in the index. The HRC noted Monsanto’s domestic partner and transgender-inclusive health care coverage plan as highlights of the company’s commitment to LGBT employees.

“We are proud of our company’s diversity and our focus on inclusion to insure that every voice is heard and every person is treated equally as these are critical to our success,” said Nicole Ringenberg, Monsanto vice-president and controller, as well as the executive sponsor for the company’s LGBT employee network, Encompass. “We’re thrilled to share the news that we are being recognized again by the Human Rights Campaign.”

The accolade is the latest in a year full of honors for Monsanto from Great Place to Work® (World’s Best Multinational Workplaces), Forbes (World’s Most Innovative Companies), CR Magazine (100 Best Corporate Citizens), Computerworld (100 Best Places to Work in IT), DiversityInc. (2013 Top 50 Companies for Diversity), National Association for Female Executives (2013 Top 50 Companies for Executive Women) and Chief Executive (2013 40 Best Companies for Leaders). For more information on these recognitions and others, click here. View the full report by the HRC at www.hrc.org/cei.

About Monsanto Company

Monsanto Company is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world’s natural resources such as water and energy. To learn more about our business and our commitments, please visit: www.monsanto.com. Follow our business on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/MonsantoCo, on the company blog, Beyond the Rows at www.monsantoblog.com, or subscribe to our News Release RSS Feed.

About the HRC

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. Find out more at www.hrc.org.

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