Constellation Energy Receives Top Rating on Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index

Corporate-wide diversity initiatives and non-discrimination policies earn Constellation Energy a score of 100 percent for second consecutive year

BALTIMORE, Sep 17, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG) today announced that it has received a top rating on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the second consecutive year. The CEI, which rates 590 businesses on a scale of 0 to 100 percent, is focused on a company's treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.

"Constellation Energy knows that by embracing and integrating diversity and inclusion into all aspects of our business, we make this company more valuable for all of our stakeholders," said Charles A. Berardesco, senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer, Constellation Energy. "Earning a perfect rating for the second consecutive year demonstrates our continuing commitment to implementing policies and best practices that support a diverse and inclusive corporate culture."

Berardesco, the chair of Constellation Energy's Diversity Council, is also a member of the Business Council for the Human Rights Campaign.

Constellation Energy routinely implements best practices to help cultivate and promote a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the organization. One such best practice includes the formation of the company's Diversity Council, which is made up of a cross-functional team of leaders from throughout the enterprise and is now in its second successful year. Other diversity initiatives throughout the company include diversity training, non-discrimination policies and employer-provided domestic partner health insurance and benefits.

"The Corporate Equality Index 2010 shows that, even in the most challenging economy, leading employers are forging ahead of federal and state law to recruit and retain a diverse workforce -- regardless of employees' sexual orientation and gender identity or expression," said Human Rights Campaign Foundation President Joe Solmonese. "While Congress considers a federal law that prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, businesses can take immediate steps to ensure all employees in their workforce are treated fairly today. These 305 businesses, and all employers actively working to improve their rating, set an example for all U.S. employers, including the federal government."

The 2010 edition of the CEI reports that 305 businesses achieved a perfect score, a 20 percent increase over last year, when the number was 260. The 305 top-rated businesses collectively employ more than 9 million full-time employees. These workers are protected from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression because of their employers' policies on diversity and inclusion, training and benefits.