We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) professionals and employees. We have developed and implemented LGBTI inclusive policies and resources, including toolkits to help managers understand the challenges that an LGBTI team member may face and the support they can offer.
Pride
Our LGBTI resource group, Pride, is open to everyone across the firm and includes a team of allies who challenge everyday assumptions and barriers that may make work life difficult for their LGBTI colleagues. The steering committee organises regular events and activities, including guest speakers from the LGBTI community and personal stories from our colleagues.
Pride contributes to our diversity and inclusion agenda by encouraging the recruitment, retention and professional development of LGBTI talent, providing guidance on LGBTI-inclusive policies and identifying opportunities to participate in volunteering and pro bono initiatives which support the LGBTI community. Pride has also helped us to develop and strengthen relationships with clients through their own LGBTI networks.
Pride mentoring groups
Monthly mentoring groups for LGBTI people create an opportunity to have open conversations about how to approach different aspects of work, career planning and managing difficult situations. Each small group is led by one of our senior LGBTI mentors who offer support and guidance.
Showing Pride
We joined forces on a global ‘Showing Pride’ campaign featuring employees and partners wearing or displaying rainbow shoelaces to show their support of the Pride networks and LGBTI inclusion. Contributors to the campaign included senior leaders and each of our regional managing partners.
International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT)
Each year we mark IDAHOT and invite our LGBTI colleagues to share their perspectives through blog posts or by talking about their own stories, challenges and successes.
Pride in the community
We support a number of LGBTI initiatives in the local community including Diversity Role Models (DRM), a charity which aims to prevent homophobic bullying in schools through workshops that help children learn about and understand difference. We have supported DRM from the outset and we are proud to be a supporting corporate sponsor.