BENTON HARBOR, Mich., Dec. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) received a score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign on the 2013 U.S. Corporate Equality Index. This marks the tenth consecutive year that Whirlpool has attained a perfect score on the index. The Corporate Equality Index rates American workplaces on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Equality.

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"Whirlpool Corporation believes supporting diversity and inclusion is the right thing for businesses to do for their employees. We believe our efforts, through policy changes and corporate culture, are just a small part of a bigger movement," said Jeff Fettig, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. "We're extremely proud to be among the index's top companies for another year and believe everyone should have a workplace where they feel fully included for their unique identity. This latest achievement shows us we continue to offer a workplace environment our employees can be proud of."

Whirlpool Corporation is the first appliance company to achieve a perfect score on the index, a result the company credits to its dedication to workplace equality. In 2002, Whirlpool instituted domestic partner benefits and recently introduced benefits to support transgender employees. In a poignant "It Gets Better" video the company created, employees shared personal experiences of coming out to family and friends and describe the supportive and welcoming environment found within the corporation. The company has implemented LGBT equality diversity training to employees across the U.S., has maintained a track record of supporting LGBT workplace equality at both the state and federal levels of government and is the first appliance brand to feature same-sex couple families in national appliance ads.

Whirlpool has seven employee resource groups, one of which is the PRIDE Network. It was established in 1999 for the company's LGBT employees and their supporters, and has a vision to be the top company for the LGBT community in support of the company's vision — Every Home, Everywhere.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $18 billion in 2012, 68,000 employees, and 65 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world.  Additional information about the company can be found at http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com.

SOURCE Whirlpool Corporation