THE Scottish Government has been listed as one of Stonewall’s top 100 LGBT-inclusive employers in the UK.
The major LGBT charity reveals their list of top employers every year, celebrating organisations' efforts to make workplaces “safer” and “better” for everyone.
Stonewall’s list, which includes employers from the public, private and third sectors, returns after taking 2021 off to acknowledge the challenges of the pandemic on business efforts to include LGBT people in the workplace.
Back in 2019, the Scottish Government was ranked at number 72 in the report, with a spokesperson saying ministers were “delighted” to be recognised.
However the Government was not shortlisted for the following year.
For 2022, the Scottish Government is back on the list at number 89. Global financial services firm Macquarie Group took the top spot, while other financial, legal and education bodies made up nearly half of the top 100.
The Scottish Government is one of just 12 governments and regulators to feature on the 2022 shortlist. It also achieved a Gold Award for work on trans and bi equality inclusion in the workplace.
A spokesperson told The National: “We welcome Stonewall’s recognition, through the Workplace Equality Index, of our inclusive policies and for the work we’ve undertaken to ensure trans and bi equality inclusion in the workplace.
“We look forward to building on these strengths and addressing areas for improvement in line with our ambition to be a world leading, diverse employer that supports LGBTI+ employees to be themselves at work.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for campaign group Out for Independence said: "We are pleased to see that the Scottish Government is on Stonewall's Top 100 Employers List for 2022.
"It is important that the Scottish Government, both as a body and as an employer, live up to the highest values that we hold for our country. By championing diversity and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ people, they are contributing to breaking down barriers to employment for our community and, in turn, ensuring the services they provide are developed and delivered by a diverse team who truly represent the people of Scotland."
Between September 2016 and 2021, the Scottish Government saw a 13 percentage point increase in sexual orientation declaration.
More than 70% of the Government's workforce are now willing to share their sexual orientation information securely with HR, while the percentage of staff who declare they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or other has increased year on year since 2016.
Each year the Top 100 Employers List is compiled through submissions to the Workplace Equality Index – these are then marked against “thorough” criteria, and Stonewall picks out their top selections for “excellent work in creative inclusive workplaces for their LGBTQ+ staff”.
Nancy Kelley, CEO of Stonewall, said it was “wonderful” to see all the work put in by employers this year.
READ MORE: Anti-trans rhetoric is not representative of Scots or the independence movement
“For many of us, the majority of our time is spent at work, so if we don’t feel comfortable being ourselves, it can take an enormous toll,” she said. “Creating environments where we can all feel comfortable makes the workplace a safer, better and friendlier place for everyone and helps staff be proud of who they are.
“In the midst of criticism and questions about our inclusion work we’re launching our Bringing Yourself To Work campaign to highlight what this work is all about – changing LGBTQ+ people’s lives for the better. That’s what we’ve always been here to do, and we make no apology for it.”
Macquarie Group reached the top spot on the list after first being shortlisted on the rankings in 2016, before rising up to 33rd position in 2020. According to Stonewall, they were rewarded this year for their continued inclusion work throughout the Covid pandemic.
Paul Plewman, the group’s chief executive officer, said the company was “thrilled”.
“This achievement recognises years of work to ensure that all our people feel empowered and can thrive and is a tribute to the commitment of the whole Macquarie team,” he explained.
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