IFF Lauds U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Employment Rights for LGBTI+ Workers

On June 15th the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. We applaud this ruling as an affirmation that civil rights apply to everyone equally. As a company we have a demonstrated history of supporting our LGBTIQ+ employees and their families and we consider this new ruling a positive action in the crucial and ongoing conversation for LGBTIQ+ rights.

We consider it our responsibility to foster a culture of inclusivity in our workplaces where everyone can be their authentic selves. Our communities – from our customers to our investors and employees in the IFF family – depend on our dedication to upholding socially responsible practices that are equal and equitable across the board. Encouraged by these recent events we will continue to do what is right for our communities in the United States and worldwide.

Bayard Rustin an African American pacifist and openly gay civil rights legend who helped engineer the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (which led to the passing of the Civil Rights Act) once said: “We are all one and if we don’t know it we will learn it the hard way.”

For us inclusivity in the workplace for the full LGBTIQ+ spectrum of identities is a necessity. Our commitments have also been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign with a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” award for the last two years.

In 2019 IFF was the first in our industry to join the community of businesses that are signatories of the UN Standards of Conduct for Business in their fight against discrimination for lesbian gay bisexual transgender and intersex people. We also support the Business Coalition for the Equality Act which fights for the passage of the Equality Act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and beyond.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion within our ranks and in our practices and we are passionate about ensuing everyone is represented and respected.

Learn more about the Equality Act here and visit us at iff.com