Carlson Achieves Perfect Score on Huaman Rights

Huaman Rights Campaign 5TH Annual Corporate Equality Index

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. October 14, 2008

MINNEAPOLS, MN, September 19, 2006). Carlson Companies has earned a perfect score on the 2006 Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index. The index is the only nationally recognized measure of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) workplace equality.

Carlson has implemented more comprehensive workplace policies and benefits to include GLBT employees, and shares the perfect score with 138 major U.S. companies, including four others in the hospitality industry.

"This honor fits with our commitment to providing a workplace and guest experience where everyone is treated with fairness and equality," said Carlson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Marilyn Carlson Nelson.

With the perfect score, Carlson will be included in the HRC's "Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality," an online feature published each January. In addition, Carlson will be included in the HRC's annual "Buying for Equality" guide, which references companies that support GLBT equality and is distributed to more than 1 million people each year.

"A top score demonstrates that our efforts in creating a healthier workplace for our GLBT employees are making a difference in our company  and we're being recognized for our contributions," said Carmen Baker, Carlson's vice president of Enterprise Diversity.

"Reaching 100 percent shows other companies in our industry that we are committed to GLBT inclusiveness," added Susan MacHolda, Carlson's senior director of Work Life/Diversity. "As a result, we are leading by example, and inspiring other companies to adopt GLBT inclusive policies and benefits."

The HRC Foundation Corporate Equality Index is intended to serve as a benchmark to assist corporate diversity and work/life leaders in the evolving field of GLBT workplace policies. Each year, the HRC Foundation's Workplace Project sends a survey to all Fortune 1000, Standard & Poor's 500, AmLaw 100 and the top 200 Forbes largest private employers.

On a scale of 0-100, each company is rated on several measures, which include officially recognizing and supporting a GLBT employee resource group and a corporate-wide diversity council, and offering equal benefits to employees' same-sex domestic partners.