Barts Health receives Stonewall silver award
Barts Health has received an accolade for its commitment to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) people in the workplace.
In 2020, Barts Health became the most improved organisation in the history of Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index (WEI), ranking 189/500 from a previous position of 393/445. This year, Barts Health has continues to improve its ranking from 186 to 183/403 in the Stonewall Workforce Equality Index rank, achieving a silver award.
Stonewall is the world’s second-largest LGBTQ+ charity and aims to support employers to create welcoming workplaces for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) people.
According to the charity’s research, more than a third of LGBTQ+ staff hide who they are at work, while one in five have been the target of negative comments because they identify as LGBTQ+.
In our recent WeBelong strategy, we talk more about the work we’re doing to become a truly inclusive organisation, including how we’re supporting colleagues who identify as LGBTQ+.
Rob Selley, chair of the LGBTQ+ staff network at Barts Health (he/him), said:
“We are incredibly pleased to receive the silver award from Stonewall. We are working hard to make sure that Barts Health can become a truly inclusive place to work and this achievement shows we are making progress. I look forward to seeing our trust continue to climb the Stonewall Workforce Equality Index rank.”
Liz Ward, director of programmes at Stonewall (she/her), said:
“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 them self 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 Barts Health has gained 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