Apple has again been awarded a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRCF) annual Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ equality and inclusion.

The organization says that the rating criteria reflect three key pillars …

  • Non-discrimination policies across business entities
  • Equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families
  • Supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility.

Companies get a percentage rating based on their stated policies, which include everything from same-sex partners of employees qualifying for health care coverage to ensuring LGBTQ inclusion in diverse supply chain programs.

Among the Fortune 500 companies, the average Corporate Equality Index rating was 67%. There was better news among the top 20 companies, however, with 13 of them scoring 100%. These are:

Of the top 20, only major AAPL investor Berkshire Hathaway refused to complete the survey, and was awarded a score of just 20% based on its known policies.

HRCF says that companies benefit from ensuring a perfect Corporate Equality Index score, with minimal additional costs.

One positive change seen, says HRCF, is that many companies now have formally recognized Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to help companies ensure inclusive policies and cultures, and that allies – people who are not LGBTQ personally, but are active in promoting equality and diversity – are playing an increasing role.

Most employers report to the HRC Foundation an overall increase of less than 3.5 percent of total benefits costs when they implement partner benefits and marginal increases related to transgender-inclusive health care coverage (i.e. a fraction of a decimal point of cost calculations).

Apple this year retook the #3 ranking in the Fortune 500 index of companies ordered by revenue, taking the top spot among tech companies and also in profit. Fortune also found that Apple was the world’s most admired company for the 12th consecutive year.

The profile and impact of an employee resource groups is greatly enhanced by an active executive champion for the group. Ninety-six percent of employee groups rated in the CEI are sponsored by an executive champion. A majority (57 percent) of executive champions identify as allies, while 34 percent reported being openly LGBTQ.

The company also recently announced a new pride band to go with the new-design pride Watch face introduced last month.