Andersen Joins Human Rights Campaign's Business Coalition for the Equality Act

Andersen Corp. has joined the Human Rights Campaign Business Coalition for the Equality Act (H.R.5).

Andersen joins a growing coalition of companies calling for the urgent passage of the Equality Act — federal legislation that would address the country's civil rights laws by including explicit protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, as well as improve protections for women, people of color and people of all faiths.

"Every person has a right to equality and to live without fear of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity," says Jay Lund, chairman and CEO of Andersen Corp. "We committed to this cause, with the support of our employees, because we truly believe the best future comes when every person has equal opportunity to achieve their full potential.

"We call on Congress to move this important piece of legislature forward and help ensure every one of Andersen's 10,000 employees and their loved ones, including those who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community, have the same protections and opportunities," Lund says.

Andersen is an equal employment opportunity employer, and shares its policy publicly on AndersenWindows.com. The Minnesota-based company is committed to furthering its culture of inclusion in support of and allyship with its LGBTQ+ workforce, advancing internal equity policies and programs to support existing LGBTQ+ employees, and attracting new talent.  

"While we've come a long way in the fight for equality, millions of people are still vulnerable to discrimination because of who they are and who they love," says Alan Bernick, senior vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, who is also executive sponsor of Andersen's PRIDE+ employee resource network. "Our country must guarantee non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people by moving forward on this landmark legislation."

Earlier this year, Andersen Corp. was named a Forbes Best Employer for Diversity 2021. The company also committed to participating in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index. 

Building an equitable community and using inclusive language also extends to how Andersen's team engages with homeowners and customers.

"In my role, we teach the importance of inclusivity when first engaging with our customers which sets up the rest of their experience with Andersen," says Benjamin Amundson, a member of Andersen's PRIDE+ employee resource network. "The intentionality Andersen has put into creating an equitable and inclusive environment has been inspiring to witness — we're making giant strides to make our workplace a different and better environment for all."