Even before the landmark decision by the Supreme Court protecting LGBTQ+ employees, many of Arizona’s top companies were already spearheading initiatives to create an inclusive environment for all employees regardless of gender identity. From employee resource groups to internal training, Arizona companies are creating equal opportunities and safe environments for their LGBTQ+ workforce and are among the most LGBTQ friendly companies.

READ ALSO: 18 of Arizona’s most influential minority business leaders

As leaders in their industries, these companies take diversity and inclusion to heart by creating a welcoming and safe space for all of their diverse employees. Whether virtually or in-person, companies are celebrating the LGBTQ+ community throughout pride month and every day in a variety of ways.

BestCompaniesAZ is proud to acknowledge and recognize a few of the best LGBTQ friendly companies. Each of these organizations has invoked initiatives to create a safe and inclusive environment for their employees. We highlight some of the best LGBTQ companies to work for below:

6 Best LGBTQ Friendly Companies To Work For In AZ

 

The companies featured on BestCompaniesAZ LGBTQ+ friendly companies list are first-rate! Each company featured has programs and initiatives dedicated to helping LGBTQ+ employees feel more included and accepted in the workplace.

Additionally, some of the following companies received a perfect score of 100 on the 2022 Corporate Equality Index for their in-person and virtual initiatives. Factors taken into consideration when rating participating companies include nondiscrimination policies, equitable benefits, support for inclusive work culture, and corporate social responsibility.

Arizona’s equality profile lists about 179,000 LGBTQ+ workers out of a total LGBTQ+ population of 286,000 as of 2020. All key cities have fully-inclusive sexual orientation and gender identity protections, covering employment, housing, and public accommodation.

The good news is that diversity and inclusion extend beyond AZ to cover the entire United States. A whopping 98% of CEI-rated businesses have achieved the standard of demonstrating at least three efforts of public commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.

Here are six of the best LGBT friendly companies in AZ:

1. Axon

At Axon, leadership and employees embrace the need for diversity. Axon is a cutting-edge technology company with a mission to protect life and make the bullet obsolete. They are laser-focused on changing the face of the public safety industry, but they also are attuned to the importance of building for equality. Colleagues at Axon are trained to be aware of unconscious bias and consistent efforts are made to promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion both within the company and in the world around us.

Axon’s Affinity Group, Axon Allies, celebrates and supports the LGBTQAI+ community and their allies. This group joins forces with pride events across the country to support and attract the best talent across all sexual orientations. Axon welcomes employees from all backgrounds to work towards empowering others, ensuring equal access, building diversity, and fostering a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive and innovate.

2. CarMax

CarMax disrupted the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent, and high-integrity experience customers want and deserve. This innovative thinking around the way cars are bought and sold has helped them become the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, with 230 stores nationwide.

CarMax has been recognized for 18 consecutive years as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®. CarMax also was named to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s “2022 Best Places To Work for LGBTQ+ Equality,” receiving a 100% score on the Corporate Equality Index, as having policies and benefits that support members of the LGBTQ+ community and their partners. CarMax is committed to honoring diversity by recruiting, educating, recognizing, and providing opportunities for all associates.

3. Farmers Insurance

Farmers Insurance®, one of the nation’s largest insurance organizations, strives to foster an inclusive workplace that celebrates differences of thought, experiences, and identity. Farmers® is committed to creating a diverse and welcoming environment for employees of all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, including its colleagues in the LGBTQ+ community.

Farmers has consistently embraced policies and practices that support LGBTQ+ employees. For this reason, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognized Farmers as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality for four consecutive years. According to the Human Rights Campaign, organizations like Farmers that earn this distinction must demonstrate they took concrete steps to incorporate policies, benefits, and practices that help ensure greater equality for LGBTQ+ workers and their families.

The Farmers Pride employee resource group or ERG has several local chapters across the country. This ERG focuses on elevating LGBTQ+ considerations within the workplace, increasing education and awareness, and engaging in the communities Farmers is proud to serve.

4. GoDaddy

GoDaddy values all voices of all employees. The company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs believes that different voices around the table fuel innovation for their customers. 90% of GoDaddy employees who responded to an internal survey in 2021 reported that their managers create an environment that allows them to be themselves at work.

Their GoDaddy UNITED Employee Resource Group provides a meaningful community where peers can promote and advocate LGBTQ+ issues and instill lasting change. It also provides internal education, community partnership, rainbow roadshows, and guest speakers. GoDaddy is proud that they have received a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s premier benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality.

5. Spear Education

Spear Education is one of the world’s most respected providers of multi-platform continuing education and practice growth resources for dental professionals.

Spear welcomes employees of all backgrounds and creates an inclusive space where diversity thrives. Spear’s LGBTQ+ & Allies group represents employees who are connected to the LGBTQ+ community and their initiatives. This group welcomes membership and contributions from all Spear employees. They provide opportunities and a safe space for Spear employees who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer for education, networking, and workplace collaboration.

6. Voya

Voya Financial helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings to get ready to retire better. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time — Voya’s vision is to be America’s Retirement Company®.

Voya Financial believes that our differences make us stronger. They define diversity as the differences that we are born with — and those we acquire throughout our lives. Voya is committed to fostering a work environment where these differences are understood and intentionally pursued.

Voya’s Employee-Led Council, LGBTQ & Allies, helps Voya foster a more inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are valued and celebrated. The group plays an important role in engaging and educating their workforce and is a vital resource for advancing the company’s business goals. Voya also scored a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s premier benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality, for the 17th year in a row.

Congratulations to these great employers for leading the way in creating safe, inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ team members! And if you’re looking for a place that accepts and values everyone, take a look at the best companies to work for in Arizona.

 

Founded in 2002, BestCompaniesAZ pioneered the intersection of recruiting, human resources, marketing and public relations — today known as Employer Branding or “PR for HR.”