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20 November 2008
Not a Diversity Champion?
Click here to apply. Workplace Equality Index 2009The Index is the definitive national benchmarking exercise showcasing Britain’s top employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. Thank you to all who participated in the Workplace Equality Index 2009. The deadline for all entries was Friday 5 September 2008. Diversity Champions are able to access the Workplace Equality Index 2009 questionnaire and guidance documents in the Members Only section. Entrants should contact the Workplace team if they have any questions and Diversity Champions contact their client account leads. The Workplace Equality Index 2009 launch will take place in January 2009, details to be confirmed. Find out how Diversity Champions benefit from benchmarking by calling the Workplace team 020 7593 1868 or email here. Workplace Equality Index 2008 Nacro, the crime reduction charity named most gay-friendly employer in Britain for 2008
On Wednesday 09 January 2008, Stonewall published its annual Workplace Equality Index, showcasing the UK’s top 100 employers for gay people. To download an electronic copy of the 2008 booklet, please click here. The top employer for 2008 is Nacro, the national crime reduction charity. The Greater London Authority comes second. Hampshire and Staffordshire police forces are joint third in the Index, which is based on a range of key indicators. Pinsent Masons was named Most Improved Employer and HM Prison Service wins an award for Network Group of the Year. ‘This accolade is a tribute to the determined way in which Nacro has sought to appeal to as wide a range of potential staff as possible,‘ said Ben Summerskill, Stonewall Chief Executive. ‘Many of the 1.7 million lesbian and gay people in the UK workforce now use the Index to see how their employer compares with others. We’re delighted to help them in their choice of workplace.’ Paul Cavadino, Nacro Chief Executive, said: ‘This shows that with commitment and determination a charity with few spare financial resources can provide a quality of support for gay staff which equals that of some of the biggest employers in the country.’ London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: ‘I’m proud that the GLA is now rated amongst the most gay-friendly organisations in the country. I’d urge public and private sector employers alike to participate in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index and use it to develop best practice in their own organisations.’ Law firm Pinsent Masons was named Most Improved Employer and HM Prison Service won an award for Employee Network Group of the Year at a champagne reception at the London Transport Museum on the evening of Wednesday 9 January, kindly sponsored by Transport for London. ‘We feel a great sense of pride and accomplishment that we’re the first law firm to be recognised as one of the top 100 gay-friendly employers,’ said Jonathan Bond, Human Resources Director at Pinsent Masons. ‘We’d not have been able to come this far without the support provided by Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.’ The top 100 employers were ranked according to criteria ranging from implementation of effective equality policies to practical demonstration of good practice in recruitment and mentoring and how they engage with lesbian and gay staff, customers and service users. The 240 employers who entered the 2008 Index were required to obtain a minimum score of 71 per cent to be placed in the top 100, up from 40 per cent in 2005. ‘The spread of employers represented - including our first ever third sector winner and the first law firm in the top 100 – vividly demonstrates the huge range of organisations now engaged with Stonewall in promoting equality,’ said David Shields, Stonewall’s Director of Workplace Programmes.
The best organisations are members of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme In addition to challenging employers, Stonewall also offers solutions. Of the 100 organisation making the list, 97 are part of the Diversity Champions programme. These are the organisations that choose to work with Stonewall to improve and maintain their competitive advantage. Please feel free to contact the Workplace team on 020 7593 1868 or email here if you have any questions regarding the WEI or the Diversity Champions programme.
© Copyright 2008 Stonewall | Charity number 1101255
Questions: contact Stonewall's Workplace team on 020 7593 1850
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