Positive action for LGBT+ rights in the workplace

Positive action for LGBT+ rights in the workplace

There have been many positive changes to workplace practices since the Equality Act of 2010.

In 2015, the UK was Europe’s highest scoring nation in ILGA-Europe's review of LGBT+ rights. The review revealed an 86% progress towards ‘respect of human rights and full equality’ for LGBT+ people. The UK also currently holds the world record for having the highest number of openly LGBT+ Parliamentarians. In the 2017 General Election, 45 LGBT+ MPs were elected.

While there’s still lots to be done, the UK has some positive cases of workers standing up for LGBT+ rights. In 1976, union members took strike action to defend one of their gay members who’d faced discrimination by their employer. The case was won by the National and Local Government Officers' Association union (NALGO) – a predecessor of today’s UNISON.

Best practice: ensuring equality for LGBT+ workers

These days it’s becoming increasingly evident that more and more employers have a positive attitude towards LGBT+ rights. VERCIDA works with enlightened companies who actively promote anti-discriminatory policies. Check out some of our leading LGBT+ employers here. These companies positively support LGBT+ employees by:

• Ensuring employees know complaints will be taken seriously.
• Having a zero-tolerance attitude to bullying of any kind.
• Making sure LGBTI employees are invited to after works drinks etc.
• Including same sex partners when inviting employees to social events.
• Extending all family-friendly work practices to LGBTI employees.
• Creating an inclusive culture in every department.
• Understanding that competitive businesses realise inclusion benefits everyone.
• Trying to have visible LGBT+ role models across the organisation.
• Making sure senior managers openly champion LGBT+ issues.

Supporting equality and diversity is a no-brainer

Companies know that a more diverse and open workplace will increase lateral thinking, innovation and creativity. A commitment to equality is not simply about biding by the law. It is about being a leading employer and modelling good practice as an example to other businesses. It will also help to retain staff and benefit future recruitment. Search our jobs database to find employers with the best LGBT+ policies and networks.

LGBT+ inclusion comes with strong economic benefits. Companies with well-established LGBT+ policies know that equality and diversity makes them more innovative. Employees of companies with good LGBT+ records are also more loyal, as are LGBT+ customers. It definitely pays to be positively perceived, whether by customers or prospective staff.