I have worked for THD in the past, including full-time for a couple of years. We had some gay associates but there was never any “month” reserved for them nor did I ever recall any mention of gays except maybe they were included in the HR Guidelines under the EEOC guidelines, who knows, I never paid attention to that crap any way. Just initial the page and move on....
THD’s biggest problem is that they suck when it comes to compensating employees. Worked my @$$ off in the garden center, sweat and blood, and actually had a blast doing it. But after a year, I was congratulated and told I was one of the best employees they have had and was such a delight to work with, blah, blah, blah... and promptly awarded with a patch and a .25 cent hourly increase and told not to complain because most people didn’t even get that much.
But then again, it’s not rocket science and employees are pretty easy to come by these days. But then again, again, I knew all that going in AAAND.... in the garden center, there is no shortage of single women coming in looking for help with their gardens. Like I said, I had a blast!... :-)
Don’t diminish the effects of these policies: Here is what earned The Home Depot a score of 90 on the HRC’s shopping guide:
Policy Description
Rating
Non-discrimination policy includes sexual orientation + 15
Non-discrimination policy includes gender identity and/or expression + 15
Company-provided domestic partner health insurance (including parity in spousal and partner COBRA, dental, vision and domestic partners legal dependent coverage)+ 15
Parity in spousal/partner soft benefits (bereavement leave; supplemental life insurance; relocation assistance; adoption assistance; joint/survivor annuity; pre-retirement survivor annuity; retiree healthcare benefits; employee discounts)+ 10
Offers equal health coverage for transgender individuals without exclusion for medically necessary care 0
Organizational LGBT cultural competency (diversity trainings, resources or accountability measures) + 10
Company-supported LGBT employee resource group or firm-wide diversity council that includes LGBT issues, OR would support a LGBT employee resource group with company resources if employees expressed an interest + 10
Engages in appropriate and respectful advertising and marketing or sponsors LGBT community events, organizations, or legislative efforts + 15
Engages in action that would undermine the goal of LGBT equality 0
Final Rating 90
The “Organizational LGBT cultural competency” is especially pernicious because this DOES force others to advocate unwillingly in this debased culture in order to work in the organization.
If you work for or support a company like this, THIS is what you are subsidizing.