Gensler

Gensler received a score of 100 on the 2026 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (1)(2)(3) The company received a score of 100 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. The company recruits employees based on sexual identity issues. The company discriminates against vendors that do not promote divisive sex and gender policies, indicating it prioritizes sexual issues over merit (4)(5). However, Gensler has not canceled customers, suppliers, or vendors based on political views or religious beliefs (6).

Gensler’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (4)(5). Gensler does not appear to discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs (6)(7).

Gensler’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend at least one, controversial training on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company forces employees to attend multiple, controversial trainings on gender identity, sexual orientation, transgender issues, and divisive racial ideology. The company provides gender transition guidelines for its employees and a specific benefits guide with a comprehensive explanation of transgender services funded by the company (4)(5). Gensler appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment, hiring, leadership composition, and mentorship program. From its Inclusion by Design Report: By implementing DEI, “We continuously assess and improve our recruitment and hiring practices by fostering meaningful relationships with future talent and tackling bias in the decision making process” (6). From its Inclusion by Design Report: “We continue to work on providing access for our female team members to leadership roles and ensuring we have a strong pipeline” (7). From its Inclusion by Design Report: “Gensler has partnered with IIDA to champion Design Your World (DYW), an educational pipeline summer program geared toward high school students, with a mission to build equity and diversity in the design industry through hands-on design projects, mentorship, field trips, industry engagement, and more” (8). The company does not publish a nondiscrimination policy (9).

Gensler’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company potentially agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2)(3). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company agrees to allow a controversial stakeholder group focused on sexual identity issues to dictate marketing or advertising strategy. By doing so, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (4)(5). Gensler is committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2030 (6). The company is aligned with the Paris Agreement, which entails a commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (7). Gensler supports DEI within its business practices, hosting a DEI Committee (8). The company supports DEI within its business practices. From its The Future of ESG in Architecture post: “Establishing the Center for Research on Equity and the Built Environment in 2020 was an innovative, focused effort to better understand our radically changing world, allowing us to examine the relationship between the built environment and diversity, equity, and inclusion” (9). Gensler supports ESG within its business practices. From its The Future of ESG in Architecture post: “In total, Gensler is currently assessing the ESG value of 70 metrics — from the thermal performance of outdoor space, to optimizing how the public accesses amenities, to low-carbon construction materials. These metrics look beyond the building itself as they seek to measure how a project can benefit the surrounding neighborhood as well” (10).

Gensler’s HRC 2026 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits, lab monitoring, and mental health benefits. The company also covers at least five of the following services: reconstructive hair removal, cosmetic hair removal, tracheal shave or reduction, facial surgeries, voice modification surgery, voice modification therapy, lipoplasty or filling for body masculinization or feminization, and travel and lodging expenses. Additionally, the company has potentially pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2)(3)(4). The company’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company covers transgender related costs for its employees and their children, including paid short-term leave, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, chest surgeries, genital surgeries, medical visits and lab monitoring, travel and lodging. Additionally, the company has pledged philanthropic support of at least one organization or event that promotes sex and gender ideology. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company increases health care costs and risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (5)(6). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of Gensler using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (7).

Gensler’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company publicly advocated for controversial sex and gender ideology through local, state or federal legislation or initiatives. By allowing a political stakeholder group to dictate operations, the company risks dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders (1)(2). The company does not operate a PAC or report on its lobbying at this time (3)(4)(5).