Southern Company has earned a 100 percent rating on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2020 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). This is the fourth consecutive year Southern Company has been named one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Southern Company is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where employees from different backgrounds and perspectives can realize their full potential. Throughout the organization, Southern Company is dedicated to empowering all employees to contribute, flourish and advance.

"I am honored that Southern Company continues to maintain a 100 percent score under the most stringent criteria to date," said Chris Collier, director of talent acquisition and diversity and inclusion for Southern Company. "This recognition highlights our company's efforts to create a workplace environment where all employees are valued and respected."

The CEI is the national benchmarking survey used to report on corporate policies and practices relating to LGBTQ workplace equality. Using its most rigorous criteria to date, the CEI rating criteria have three key pillars:

Non-discrimination policies across business entities;

Equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families; and

Supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility.

Additionally, the CEI noted that employers earning top ratings "took concrete steps to ensure greater equity for LGBTQ workers and their families in the form of comprehensive policies, benefits and practices."