"MetLife is proud to earn a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index for the seventh consecutive year," said Kathleen Henkel, senior vice president, human resources, MetLife. "It's great recognition of our open, inclusive culture, as well as our deep understanding of the diverse communities we serve. We congratulate all of the companies that received a perfect score this year."

The HRC Corporate Equality Index rated companies on a scale from 0 to 100 percent on several factors, including a written non-discrimination policy as well as employee benefits, training programs, support networks, advertising and marketing, and contributions to the GLBT community.

"The Corporate Equality Index 2010 shows that, even in the most challenging economy, leading employers are forging ahead of federal and state law to recruit and retain a diverse workforce ” regardless of employees' sexual orientation and gender identity or expression," said Human Rights Campaign Foundation President Joe Solmonese. "While Congress considers a federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, businesses can take immediate steps to ensure all employees in their workforce are treated fairly today. These 305 businesses, and all employers actively working to improve their rating, set an example for all U.S. employers, including the federal government."

In the workplace, MetLife offers its U.S. employees and their domestic same- and opposite-sex partners a variety of health and other benefits. MetLife also has a recognized GLBT affinity group, as well as a strong diversity community comprised of more than 30 employee-led groups.

To better serve the needs of the GLBT marketplace, MetLife has two GLBT Advisory Councils, made up of financial services representatives and members of MetLife's advanced market and financial planning teams. The first council provides support and guidance for MetLife's ongoing GLBT marketing strategy, while members of the other council recommend best practices and strategies to increase recruiting in the GLBT market and services to the community.

MetLife, Inc. is a leading provider of insurance, employee benefits and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as well as group insurance and retirement & savings products and services to corporations and other institutions. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

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