Inclusion and accessibility are at the heart of our mission and culture at Cloudera. This approach and our focus on inclusion are crucial to both our broader business objectives and to establishing the kind of workplace where our employees can be their best, authentic selves every day. As we strive to make data and analytics accessible, we pride ourselves on creating a working environment that makes every employee feel valued and supported, regardless of how they identify.
In that spirit, we are proud to have taken part in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI) this year. This report, released by the HRC annually, serves as a national benchmarking tool examining the corporate policies, practices, and benefits provided by companies that are pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees.
With the newest report freshly released, now is the perfect time to dive into what makes the CEI such an important metric and how Cloudera is working to provide LGBTQ+ employees with a positive and supportive work environment.
Why the Corporate Equality Index Matters
In 2024, Cloudera participated in the HRC Corporate Equality Index and was subsequently evaluated for its benefits and efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community. The report is critically important, highlighting successes and areas for improvement. The Human Rights Campaign has released these CEI reports annually for over two decades, becoming increasingly valuable to companies looking to innovate on their inclusion and diversity efforts.
The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and now the 2025 CEI has grown to include 1,449 participating organizations. The results of the 2025 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+-friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. Scoring is broken down into four main sets of criteria: workforce protections, inclusive benefits, supporting and inclusive culture, and corporate social responsibility. Among others, initiatives like non-discrimination policies, family and domestic partner benefits, LGBTQ+ internal training and accountability, transgender inclusion best practices, and outreach or engagement with the broader LGBTQ+ community all factor into the final reporting.
The categories and scoring requirements within the CEI report are all areas where Cloudera has committed significant time and effort to build, and continuously improve, our culture. That culture has, in large part, been enriched and fostered by the efforts of our LGBTQ+ ERG, working to bring greater awareness to intersectional topics. For example, during Pride Month 2024, the ERG organized multiple events and meaningful opportunities for dialogue. Take a look at what our team in Cork, Ireland, did to celebrate Pride earlier this year. They equipped peers and leadership alike with tools to foster inclusivity, build empathy, and better understand the diverse experiences of the LGBTQ+ community.
From Cloudera’s perspective, the report’s goals and findings are directly aligned with our values. The CEI is much more than just a benchmark, it’s a reflection of who we are as a company. Taking part in the CEI helps us demonstrate to employees, customers, and partners just how committed we are to operating as a socially responsible organization, prioritizing values that empower all people.
Delivering on Our Commitment to an Inclusive Work Environment
Cloudera has a commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and all employees that is both actionable and continuous. We are constantly looking at ways that we, as an organization, can enhance our policies, benefits, and programming to ensure they fully reflect and address the needs of our employees. Examples of this commitment can be seen in Cloudera’s ongoing DEI programming, which is designed to build awareness and allyship and encourage employees to actively share feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
Cloudera employees, through groups like our ERGs, are strong advocates for representation and equality in their communities. Programs like Women Leaders in Technology have helped provide opportunities for personal growth and a sense of community while volunteering initiatives give Clouderans a chance to provide young students mentorship and support. Recently, Cloudera also successfully completed the recertification process with Fair Pay Workplace, demonstrating the company’s commitment to ongoing efforts to maintain equitable compensation practices. The arrival of the 2025 CEI report is a reminder that there is always work to be done when it comes to corporate equality and DEI.
Learn more about how Cloudera is working to foster an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone can feel empowered to be themselves.
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