Stonewall’s Top 100 Inclusive Employers Announcement

Europe’s largest charity for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer rights, Stonewall, has today launched its hotly anticipated Top 100 Employers List and named financial services firm, Macquarie Group, as the most inclusive employer.

Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers List is the UK’s leading ranking of employers from public, private and third sectors on how inclusive their workplaces are.

The list, which is back after a yearlong hiatus to acknowledge the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses, ranks organisations on their efforts and commitment to inclusion for LGBTQ+ people in the workplace.

In response to increased opposition to trans inclusion in the workplace, the charity has launched its Bring Yourself To Work campaign alongside its Top 100 Employers list to highlight the real life impact that inclusion has on lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people across the UK.

From the bi woman who doesn’t feel comfortable being out, to the gay man keen to know his parental rights and the non-binary person who is misgendered by their colleagues – inclusive practices are ultimately about people being themselves at work. The charity has been consistently clear that creating inclusive environments makes the workplace safer and better for everyone – not just LGBTQ+ people. 

The Top 100 Employers List is compiled through submissions to a free, voluntary benchmarking tool, the Workplace Equality Index. All submissions are then marked against thorough and standardized criteria and the Top 100 Employers are picked out for their excellent work in creating inclusive workplaces for their LGBTQ+ staff.

Nancy Kelley, CEO of Stonewall (she/her) said:

‘It’s been wonderful to see all of the work put in by the private, public and third sector organisations making up the Top 100 Employers List this year.

‘For many of us, the majority of our time is spent at work, so if we don’t feel comfortable being ourselves, it can take an enormous toll. Creating environments where we can all feel comfortable makes the workplace a safer, better and friendlier place for everyone and helps staff be proud of who they are.

‘In the midst of criticism and questions about our inclusion work we’re launching our Bringing Yourself To Work campaign to highlight what this work is all about – changing LGBTQ+ people’s lives for the better. That’s what we’ve always been here to do, and we make no apology for it.’

Stonewall’s Top Employer 2022

2022’s Top Employer for LGBTQ+ people is global financial services firm, Macquarie Group. Macquarie first became a Top 100 Employer in 2016 and achieved the 33rd position in 2020. They’ve risen to the top of the list this year after continuing to build on their inclusion work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paul Plewman, Chief Executive Officer for Macquarie Group in EMEA (he/him), said:

“We’re thrilled with the recognition of how important LGBTQ+ inclusion is to Macquarie, in the UK and globally. This achievement recognises years of work to ensure that all our people feel empowered and can thrive and is a tribute to the commitment of the whole Macquarie team.”  

Sector representation across the Top 100

The Top 100 takes submissions from public, private and third sector organisations and this year:

• Private sector organisations made up 48 of the Top 100 employers
• 47 public sector employers and 7 third sector organisations were represented on the List
• The financial sector was the most successful sector within the Top 100 Employers List this year, with a total of sixteen firms from financial services placing on the list
• The legal and education sectors are also well represented on the list, with fifteen and fourteen legal firms and education organisations respectively
• Government and Regulators also featured highly, with twelve reaching a top spot.

Being Yourself At Work

Through its Diversity Champion programme, Stonewall has been helping organisations create inclusive workplaces for more than two decades. Stonewall insists that inclusion for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people is not only vital for business but has a life changing effect on LGBTQ+ staff.

According to the charity’s research:

• Almost one in five LGBT staff (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments or conduct from work colleagues in the last year because they’re LGBT.​

• More than a third of LGBT staff hide who they are at work in fear of discrimination.​
• One in eight lesbian, gay and bi people wouldn’t feel confident reporting any homophobic or biphobic bullying to their employer. (Rising to one in five for trans people)​
• One in eight trans people (12 per cent) have been physically attacked by customers or colleagues in the last year because of being trans.​
• Almost one in five LGBT people (18 per cent) who were looking for work said they were discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity while trying to get a job in the last year.​

Since Stonewall set up the Diversity Champions programme, many large employers have developed major internal programmes to promote diversity and inclusion for their LGBTQ+ staff. This has included creating LGBTQ+ Networks, supporting organisations to include LGBTQ+ staff in all of their policies, communicate a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, bullying and harassment at work, and supporting staff to bring their whole selves to their jobs.

Contrary to reports in the national press, Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme continues to grow, with the charity now boasting a roster of more than 900 clients from a healthy variety of sectors, all committed to inclusion.

See more about the far-reaching impacts of inclusion work