Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognizes Altice USA as a ‘Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality’ for the Fourth Year in a Row

For the fourth consecutive year, Altice USA has received the esteemed recognition of a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The Human Rights Campaign is the country’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, and the CEI voluntarily benchmarks and measures company policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

Altice USA -- the parent company of Optimum and Suddenlink connectivity services, News 12 Networks, Cheddar News and a4 advertising -- is again proud to be recognized for its commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace where employees are encouraged to be their authentic selves, making us stronger as a company. As recognized in this ranking, the progress that continues to transpire reflects the collective work done across our entire business supported by our Diversity and Inclusion programs – and remains an inspiration as we look ahead.

Altice USA congratulates and acknowledges the tremendous work by our LGBTQ+ Affinity Group, Altice Together, for their continuous leadership and advancement in promoting acceptance, inclusion and allyship of our LGBTQ+ employees. It is the passion, commitment, and resilience of our affinity groups that connects employees across different backgrounds and experiences, bringing us all closer together.

We asked some of the members of Altice Together what the recognition of ‘Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality’ means to them:

‘’Early in my career with the company I took for granted how fortunate I am to work for a company where my sexual orientation is a non-issue, and it wasn’t until I really began to grow professionally that I realized not everyone’s work experience was the same as mine. I knew that the LGBTQ+ community still faced adversity, of course, but I never really considered It in the professional space, since I had never experienced it! I am thankful for AUSA, the Altice Together Affinity Group and my colleagues for keeping me grounded and I am thankful to work for a company that doesn’t just want me to be authentic, but expects it!’’

• John Kalhorn, Human Resources

‘’For Altice USA to receive a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index - for me it means that I work for a company where I can show up and be 100% me.  This perfect score means I have resources available to support me in many ways as a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community who works for Altice USA.  It means safety, security.  I can have casual watercooler discussions about my wife and child without looking over my shoulder worrying if sharing a piece of my home life will jeopardize my career.’’

• Stephanie DeGazon, Technology

‘’Being born and raised in a very conservative and religious country at a very young age I had to reject a big part of who I am to survive. That was especially apparent in the workplace, so when making the transfer here to AUSA and experiencing the corporate culture and affinity groups, I felt a huge burden lifted out off my shoulders, where not only me being myself is accepted, but celebrated. Experiencing this for the first time in my life was so refreshing and life changing and I feel so proud of Altice USA receiving this recognition.’’

•  Axel Rivas, Consumer Services

“I am so proud to be working for a company that for four years in a row received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign CEI. My child is non-binary and they are just getting into the workforce. I am hopeful that more companies will follow suit so that their career will have as much promise as those in the LGBTQ+ community have here at Altice.”

Erica Simanek Knoch, News and Advertising

The prestigious national ranking recognizes workplaces with policies and practices that create inclusive environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees to thrive. Learn more here.