New York, October 12, 2012
Fostering an environment of diversity and inclusion where everyone’s background is respected in the workplace is one of the key ingredients of success for companies in the 21st Century, Marsh US CEO David Bidmead said at an event held last night in celebration of National Coming Out Day.
Executives and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) leaders from major corporations, veterans, and members of Marsh’s own Pride@Marsh Employee Resource Group gathered last night at the headquarters of Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO®) in New York for a screening and panel discussion on the documentary “The Strange History of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”
The HBO Documentary Film, which takes a look at the controversial Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy from its inception through to its ultimate repeal in 2011, highlights the challenges faced by gays and lesbians serving in the US military.
“Creating a safe work environment where employees feel secure to be who they are is crucial to maximizing a competitive edge,” said Aubrey Sarvis, Army veteran and executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, who is also featured in the documentary and spoke on the panel. “A more inclusive environment results in higher job satisfaction and morale among employees, higher productivity and more innovation—both in the corporate world and in the military.”
Commenting on the event, Mr. Bidmead said: “Marsh is proud to partner with HBO for this event and highlight such an important issue. Creating a culture that celebrates and promotes the many backgrounds, heritages, and perspectives of a company’s workforce is not only the right thing to do, but also imperative in today’s business environment where recruiting and retaining the best talent is intricately tied to growth.”
Marsh & McLennan Companies has a long history of supporting diversity in the workplace. For the last five years, it has received a 100% Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index score. In 2011, Marsh & McLennan was a finalist LGBT Employee Resource Group of the Year in the annual Out & Equal Workplace Awards.
“The Strange History of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” can still be seen on HBO and is available on HBO GO.