This profile is part of a series about some local businesses that have scored perfectly on HRC'S Corporate Equality Index
For the past eight years, Aon Corp. has received a 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign's ( HRC ) Corporate Equality Index ( CEI ). Aon is among 366 major businesses to achieve that score and earn the distinction of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality".
"Our consistent 100 percent rating shows that we didn't just get 100 percent that first year and stay at the level we were at. We've continued to be progressive in our policies and our culture," said Nichole Barnes Marshall, global head of diversity and inclusion for Aon plc. "This isn't one of those policies, strategies or initiatives were you do one thing and it goes away or you feel like you've checked that box. It really has to be a commitment that extends all the way through the organization. Our CEI rating helps us to keep that commitment strong and certainly very positively with our clients and partners because we're mirroring their values as well. Those companies also show up on the CEI 100 list so they expect their partners to show up on the list as well. It certainly has a business advantage as well."
One of the ways Aon achieves this score is through its Pride Alliance Business Resource Group ( BRG ). Pride Alliance is among 12 BRG's that Aon colleagues have created around shared interests and experiences. These BRG's help Aon achieve its diversity and inclusion vision.
Formed in 2005 as one of Aon's first BRG's, Pride Alliance is, according to Aon's website, "a global BRG for LGBT colleagues and allies ( LGBTAlly ) ... that works to incorporate the LGBTAlly experience in developing innovative ways to serve Aon's clients and grow the business."
"The group is really focused on ensuring that all of our colleagues are able to bring their authentic selves to work every day without worry or fear that they are going to be judged or mistreated in any kind of way," said Marshall. "All of our BRG's focus on four key strategic areas that align back to our talent strategy: recruitment and retention, community engagement, business development and professional development. Pride Alliance helps us recruit and retain LGBT talent, assists us in reaching out to community partners that engage us and brand us in the LGBT community and helps us with our partnerships with other organizations that allow us to do business in the LGBT community."
Pride Alliance's executive sponsor is Aon Global Chief Marketing and Communication Officer Phil Clement. He was recently named as one of the top 20 allies ( number 15 ) around the globe in business and industry by OUTstanding—a non-profit professional network for LGBT executives and their allies—out of the United Kingdom.
"I'm proud to work for a company and CEO who truly value the importance of including diversity and inclusion as part of our growth strategy," said Clement. "These values are consistent with our strategic imperative to be a destination for best talent and the work of our colleagues in our global Pride Alliance is what has helped us achieve a perfect score on HRC's CEI year after year."
Eric Braverman and Koka Kliora are two local Pride Alliance leaders. Braverman ( senior vice-president in the Special Services division in Chicago ) is the Midwest Region Coordinator of Pride Alliance while Kliora ( proposal manager for Aon Hewitt/Sales and Client Management in Lincolnshire, Illinois ) is a liaison to Aon executives, represents Pride Alliance to colleagues and clients and spearheads events and education initiatives at the Lincolnshire location. Both have been with the company for about 10 years and joined Pride Alliance almost immediately after being hired.
Braverman shared that he has been out ( he is gay ) at work for many years and when he was originally asked to be the Midwest Region Coordinator he was reluctant at first but when he found out that there wasn't anyone else in a management position who was willing to do it that bothered him so he agreed to do it.
Kliora noted that one of the things that drew her to Aon was the Pride Alliance BRG. "At the time I was closeted because I didn't feel comfortable telling anyone that I was bisexual. It was really important that I found a group that welcomed me as I identified and they really helped me come out of the closet very quickly," said Kliora. "I'd never met anyone else who was bisexual and hadn't met many LGBT people in general so I didn't feel comfortable about being bisexual or a part of any community that was LGBT focused. So by being welcomed by Pride Alliance, I felt comfortable enough to be honest about who I was. Ever since I've been out at work and in my private life."
Each office's Pride Alliance BRG holds quarterly meetings. They also host a number of events across the globe. Just this past October, they hosted an event here in Chicago centered around National Coming Out Day featuring Billy Bean ( ambassador of inclusion for Major League Baseball ) and Todd Sears ( Out on the Street and Out Leadership founder ). The event focused on what it means to be your authentic selves both personally and professionally.
"A few years ago we co-sponsored an event with a law firm Hinshaw and Culbertson centered around finance, estate planning and insurance for LGBT couples," said Braverman. "Afterwards Lashana Jackson, who was Nichole's predecessor, told me she was shocked that this inequality exists and she was instrumental in having Aon recognize domestic partner benefits for the purposes of insurance."
"We launched our Safe Space program [like the one that GLSEN sends to schools] at our London office where colleagues can put up a symbol in their cube or office that indicates that this is a place where any colleague, not only our LGBT colleagues, can feel comfortable and know that they are going to be respected and appreciated in that space," said Marshall. "This is just another way that we've demonstrated our commitment to our LGBT colleagues.
"At Aon, as with many other companies, inclusion is a given not that there's no work to be done. You can start at Aon knowing that they have inclusive policies and welcome you for who you are and if there are any issues that crop up you will have the company behind you," said Kliora.
"The fact that Pride Alliance exists sends a positive message to new hires and younger employees that this is a place where you can come to work and be your authentic self and not have to worry about hiding any aspect of your personal life or fear discrimination," said Braverman.
"We've had the opportunity to bring so much visibility to the needs of our LGBT colleagues through our Pride Alliance BRG," said Marshall. "Our president has been directly involved with the Pride Alliance either speaking at events or contributing in a meaningful way in supporting the organization's that support our LGBT colleagues and our visibility within the LGBT community. It's just another element of our commitment to our talent, clients and community. Our leadership's commitment to inclusion overall is reflected in our various BRG's."
See www.aon.com/about-aon/careers/diversity-and-inclusion-at-aon.jsp for more information .
