Grant Thornton Maintains Perfect CEI Score Amidst Talent Retention Challenges

Event summary

  • Grant Thornton achieved a perfect 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRCF) 2026 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), marking the ninth consecutive year of top marks.
  • The CEI evaluates companies based on non-discrimination policies, benefits, inclusive culture, and outreach/engagement.
  • The 2026 CEI assessed 534 U.S.-based companies, impacting over 22 million U.S. workers.
  • Grant Thornton’s culture and inclusion efforts have also been recognized by Seramount and Forbes in the past year.

The big picture

Grant Thornton’s consistent CEI scores demonstrate a commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion, which is increasingly important for attracting and retaining talent in the competitive professional services sector. While the firm’s recognition is positive, the broader trend of companies prioritizing DEI initiatives faces potential headwinds from evolving political and regulatory landscapes. The firm's recent platform expansion suggests a desire to leverage its global reach, and its DEI practices will be crucial in fostering a cohesive and inclusive culture across diverse teams.

What we're watching

Talent Retention
Maintaining a perfect CEI score is increasingly a baseline expectation; Grant Thornton’s ability to translate this recognition into sustained employee retention, particularly among diverse talent, will be a key indicator of its long-term success.
Benchmarking
The CEI’s influence is growing, and the increasing number of companies participating suggests that Grant Thornton’s relative performance against peers will become more critical to attracting and retaining talent.
Regulatory Scrutiny
As ESG and DEI initiatives face increased regulatory scrutiny and potential backlash, Grant Thornton’s transparency and demonstrable action around LGBTQ+ inclusion will be under continued observation.

Related topics

Financial Services