Companies We Should Support

[Guest ryan2552]

A list recently released by the Human Rights Campaign shows the best places to work in 2008 for Gay people. Even though some of us, maybe even most of us, don't work at these firms I think we might want to support them whenever realistic. The list can be viewed here: http://www.hrc.org/issues/best_places_to_work_2008.asp

[Guest Wetnwildbear]

*BUMP* Cause its important!!!!

[Guest Wetnwildbear]

<BUMP>

[ariadne1880]

If they sell the best product or service at the best price then I'll support them. Otherwise, forget it. I don't play politics with my money.

 

Mark

[buckguy]

The trouble with "best" lists is the limitations of the methodologies they use. Some of the criteria used by HRC are quite vague and its unclear how many are operationalized--also the criteria, such as they are, are buried as an appendix in the annual report. In addition, being a "good place" for LGBT people has to be balanced against other business practices. The list includes companies that have had repeated ethical or scientific lapses (Eli Lilly comes to mind), union busting (Starbucks for one), etc. In addition, the "best" are often numerically close to some that aren't "best".

 

It's a shame these things have gotten so prevalent. For example, tiny changes in the US News & World Report ratings of colleges are given great importance, even though they are statistically meaningless and the criteria that the magazine uses is really "soft" and often boils down to self perpetuating reputational ratings (which often reflect where a college or a department were 5-10 years ago rather than the present).