Grant Thornton UK LLP a leading business and financial adviser, has received an accolade for its commitment to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in the workplace.
This year, Grant Thornton received a Silver award from Stonewall, the world’s second-largest LGBTQ+ charity. The firm’s ranking for 2022 in the Employer’s list was 143 out of 403, representing a huge improvement from its 2020 ranking of 287 out of 503.
According to the charity’s research, more than a third of LGBTQIA+ staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work, while one in five (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments because they’re LGBTQIA+.
“I am extremely proud of the achievements the firm has made over the last three years. Our rapid climb up the Stonewall Employers list is testament to the commitment of so many people who have pulled together to make our firm a more inclusive, diverse and compassionate place to work.
“So much fantastic work has been done, but we’re particularly proud of the work that we’ve done to improve our workplace policies, updating our dress code, and transitioning at work policies as well as making employee feedback and information gathering forms gender neutral. Another area where we’ve made significant improvements is data collection and monitoring, updating our Annual Declarations to allow our people to better express their gender identity.
“We have built the most amazing, committed, and diverse LGBTQIA+ Network Working Group, which works to engage and represent marginalized and underrepresented people in our community. This community is enriched by our regular coffee catch and book clubs as well as firm-wide events and communications to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices.”
As part of Stonewall’s Bring Yourself To Work, the LGBTQIA+ equality charity, has published its Top 100 Employers List, awarded a series of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to organisations to celebrate their inclusion work. The charity will also be highlighting the importance of inclusion for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people, and the life-changing impact of being able to bring your whole self to work.
‘We spend so much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves. Every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person should be able to be themselves at work. From understanding how HR policies, such as parental leave, will affect them, to being reassured that they can speak openly about their lives and partners at the coffee machine, the impact of inclusive workplaces can be life changing.
‘It’s fantastic that Grant Thornton has made such gains in the rankings and earned a Silver Award for their efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of their inclusion journey.’
The Stonewall Top 100 Employers list this year can be found on the Stonewall website, as well as further information about the importance of LGBTQIA+ inclusion.