Caesars Entertainment Leads the Way with Seventh Consecutive Perfect Corporate Equality Index Rating from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

Dec 9, 2013 9:30 AM ET

LAS VEGAS, December 9, 2013 /3BL Media/ — For an impressive seventh consecutive year, Caesars Entertainment Corporation has been awarded a perfect rating from the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Corporate Equality Index. The Corporate Equality Index scores businesses based on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace policies.

“It is an exceptional honor to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation on its Corporate Equality Index,” said Fred Keeton, vice president of external affairs and chief diversity officer for Caesars Entertainment. “Our unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion including upholding LGBT workplace equality and providing opportunity for all of our employees will continue to be a core value and guiding principle for our operations.”

The Corporate Equality Index has provided a roadmap for employers to enhance their employment policies, benefits and other practices broadly for the past ten years. Rigorous rating requirements are used to score participating major U.S. businesses. The level of difficulty rises each year with an increased focus on social impacts and issues. A company must continually evolve its policies, making its efforts more robust. Employees at 100-percent rated companies enjoy the benefits of their employer’s progressive views on equal employment in the workplace.

“We are happy to award Caesars with a perfect score as it continues to prove its dedication to serving and providing equal experiences for its LGBT guests and employees,” said Deena Fidas, Director of the Workplace Project. “We congratulate Caesars on its leadership, exceptional track record and ongoing work on behalf of LGBT communities around the world.”

Caesars Entertainment Corporation has a standing history of leadership in the gaming/entertainment industry supporting diversity and inclusion including LGBT communities across the nation. This seven-year achievement is a reflection of Caesars promise to create and facilitate policies and programs that are offered to all of its employees and guests. Relative to its LGBT employees, the company enforces its comprehensive non-discrimination policies, provides domestic partner benefits (including health care) and offers benefit coverage for gender reassignment.

The company has also been involved with legislative efforts to provide equality and additional rights to all LGBT persons. With the support of Caesars Entertainment, the 2011 Nevada Transgender Anti-Discrimination Bill passed outlawing discrimination against transgender people in public accommodations, such as restaurants, hotels and stores and prohibits discrimination against them in the rental and sale of housing and property. Earlier this year  Caesars Entertainment was the only casino entertainment company in the U.S. to sign the U.S. Supreme Court Amicus Brief arguing that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) should  be overturned.

Keeton stressed that the company is a large supporter of the LGBT community and seeks to provide a world-class experience for all of its guests. LGBT guests are treated with the utmost respect and are encouraged to take part in pioneered LGBT events and offerings (e.g. Gay weddings and commitment ceremonies, honeymoon packages, nightlife and PRIDE events).

The Corporate Equality Index 2013 report is available at www.hrc.org/cei.

About Caesars Entertainment Corporation Diversity and Inclusion

Caesars Entertainment Corporation is committed to conducting business responsibly by providing employees with equal opportunities for growth and contribution under the direction of its diversity and inclusion department. Caesars Entertainment approaches diversity and inclusion in parallel paths focusing both on traditional representational diversity and resulting cognitive diversity. Employees’ life experiences, background and skills are utilized in diverse-by-design teams to help drive better business outcomes. The diverse-by-design approach can be applied across all business functions to drive outcomes by solving the company’s hardest problems or in taking advantage of its most complex opportunities. The use of the cognitive diversity model sets Caesars Entertainment apart as a leader in best diversity and inclusion practices.

Caesars Entertainment is the only company in the casino entertainment industry to receive a perfect score seven consecutive times on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. The Nevada Minority Business Council inducted Caesars Entertainment into its hall of fame as “Corporation of the Decade,” for the company’s 15-year dedication to diversity and inclusion. Most recently, Profiles in Diversity Journal conferred its top honor, the “2012 Diversity Leader Award,” to Caesars Entertainment for its outstanding diversity communications practices. Caesars Entertainment has a longstanding history of community engagement and social responsibility and was named Business Week’s “Most Generous Company in America.” Caesars Entertainment is committed to creating a dynamic and innovative culture where individual growth is not only encouraged, but also rewarded, recognized and celebrated.

About Caesars Entertainment Corporation

Caesars Entertainment Corporation is the world's most geographically diversified casino-entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 75 years ago, Caesars has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions and now operates casinos on four continents. The company's resorts operate primarily under the Harrah's®, Caesars® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars also owns the London Clubs International family of casinos. Caesars Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Caesars is committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognizes the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment.  For more information, please visit www.caesars.com.

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