Is Costco really LGBTQ friendly?
Costco has achieved only a 60/100 on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index, a score which is significantly lower than many of its peers. While Costco provides sufficient workforce protections for LGBTQ employees, the company falls behind on both inclusive benefits, and corporate social responsibility. In 2022, Costco Wholesale Corporation continued to demonstrate its commitment to LGBTQ rights with a number of initiatives, including speaking out against anti-LGBTQ legislation, supporting Pride month, and introducing a new, comprehensive LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination policy. Additionally, the company announced its support for the Equality Act, a bill that seeks to protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and other areas of life. Furthermore, it launched an LGBTQ Supplier Diversity Program, which works to increase diversity and inclusion among its suppliers, and announced plans to create a dedicated LGBTQ Employee Resource Group. These initiatives demonstrate Costco’s dedication to creating an inclusive workplace and supporting the LGBTQ community.
Detailed information
Does Costco have inclusive workforce protections?
Costco has inclusive workforce protections, with policies that include both sexual orientation and gender identity & expression for all operations
Policy includes gender identity or expression for all operations
Policy includes sexual orientation for all operations
Does Costco have an LGBTQ inclusive culture?
Costco has shown some commitment to diversity through initiatives like:
- Training for new hires and employees, executives performance tied to diversity goals.
- Policies that support an inclusive culture around gender identity and self expression.
- Employee groups and/or diversity councils within the company to support LGBTQ employees.
- Other programs around hiring, supplier selection, marketing, and philanthropy to support LGBTQ individuals, causes, and organizations.
LGBTQ Corporate Social Responsibility
Employee group –or– Diversity council
Three Distinct Efforts of Outreach or Engagement to Broader LGBTQ Community
Three LGBTQ Internal Training and Education Best Practices
Does Costco offer LGBTQ friendly benefits to its employees?
Costco does provide some inclusive benefits as part of their offering for US Employees, in terms of health Insurance equality for spouses or domestic partners for different-sex and same-sex couples, or equal health coverage for transgender individuals.
Equivalency in same- and different-sex spousal medical and soft benefits
Equivalency in same- and different-sex domestic partner medical and soft benefits
Equal health coverage for transgender individuals without exclusion for medically necessary care
Latest news
Kansas City Costco denies discrimination allegations as new patients come forward
The general manager of the Costco location on Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City on Friday denied allegations of discrimination that arose after a Star report found a pattern of the store’s pharmacy refusing to fill testosterone prescriptions for transgender and nonbinary patients.
by AOL
KCMO LGBTQ Commission investigates Midtown Costco for potentially denying customers gender confirmation care
The Kansas City, Missouri, LGBTQ Commission issued a statement Thursday concerning an investigation into whether the Midtown Costco was denying customers gender confirmation care. Specifically, the commission cites three individuals who said they were denied testosterone.
by KSHB
Human Rights Campaign report on Costco
Costco has achieved a score of 60/100 on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index by the Human Rights Campaign.
by Human Rights Campaign
Better Alternatives
Amazon
Sam's Club
Target
