WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 21, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has achieved a 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI).

The HRC, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, rates American companies annually on how they treat LGBT employees, consumers and investors.

In 2005, Raytheon became the first defense and aerospace company to achieve a 100 percent score on the CEI. Raytheon has continued to lead the industry in fostering a comfortable workplace environment where all employees can achieve maximum growth and productivity regardless of sexual orientation, gender expression and/or gender identity.

"We are proud to continue to align with the important criteria set forth by the Human Rights Campaign. We have raised the bar in our efforts to create an inclusive and open environment for all of our employees, and this ranking is further proof of our continued dedication," said Hayward Bell, Raytheon's chief diversity officer.

As part of the criteria for the CEI, companies were rated on a scale of zero to 100 percent on a variety of measures that included health insurance coverage to employees' same-sex domestic partners; inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity and-or expression in their nondiscrimination policy; official recognition and support of a LGBT employee resource group; and engaging in respectful and appropriate marketing to the LGBT community and-or providing support of LGBT community.

Raytheon Company, with 2008 sales of $23.2 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 87 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 73,000 people worldwide.

    Contact:
    Rashi Ratan
    703.284.4328

SOURCE Raytheon Company

SOURCE: Raytheon Company

Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/149999.html