Stonewall has launched new guidance as part of its Global Diversity Champions Programme, kindly supported by Data Morphosis, to help businesses support lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) equality worldwide.
Global Values: Getting Started with LGB Equality Worldwide offers practical ways for global businesses to support lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the face of ever changing local legal, social and cultural conditions.
The guide features eleven major global organisations to highlight how they support lesbian, gay and bisexual staff around the world. Barclays, IBM, EY, Google and Herbert Smith Freehills are amongst the organisations that have shared their best practice.
The new guidance offers ten top tips to ensure organisation’s policies and values are consistent wherever they operate in the world – from ensuring clear global leadership in support of LGB equality to providing safe spaces for LGB staff in countries where no legal protections exist. The guide will be sent to 100 global employers, including businesses, government agencies and international universities.
Ruth Hunt, Stonewall’s Acting Chief Executive, said: ‘At Stonewall we know that employers, whether from the private, public or third sectors, have played a powerful role in driving forward equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain. This guide, the first in a series of Global Workplace Guides, will help global organisations to share these same values no matter where they work in the world.’
Simon Feeke, Stonewall’s Head of Workplace, said: ‘More and more organisations are looking for meaningful ways to share their values, particularly supporting lesbian, gay and bisexual staff, no matter where they operate around the world. This guide will help organisations think about the ways they can express their commitment to equality within the boundaries of local law.’
For information on Stonewall’s Global Diversity Champions Programme visit: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_work/global_diversity_champions_programme/default.asp
