30 Jan University of Essex named East of England’s top employer for LGBT staff
One organisation from the East of England has made the Top 100 Employers list, compiled by lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity Stonewall.
The Top 100 is the UK’s definitive list ranking employers from across public, private and third sectors on how LGBT inclusive their workplaces are and is intensely competitive.
The University of Essex is one of 16 organisations in the higher education sector making the list, coming in at number 57. In 2019, the University of Essex ranked at 93, while in 2018, it came in at 59.
Professor Christine Raines, trans inclusion champion at the University of Essex, said: ‘We are really proud to be included in the Top 100 for the third year running and our rise in the rankings clearly demonstrates the progress we have made in making the University a good place to work for everyone.
‘However, we recognise there is still more we can do, and this year we will be extending our training for allies and reviewing the impact of our ‘Supporting trans and non-binary staff guidance’.
This year’s Top 100 was the most competitive ever, with 503 employers vying for a coveted spot.
Stonewall research shows that one in seven LGBT employees (14 per cent) don’t feel able to be themselves at work and almost one in five LGBT people (18 per cent) have experienced discrimination when applying for jobs because of their identity.
Sanjay Sood-Smith, Stonewall’s Executive Director of Workplace & Community Programmes, said: ‘The University of Essex and all of the organisations who have made this year’s Top 100 Employer’s list are playing a huge role in improving the lives of LGBT people, and should be very proud of their work.
‘We still don’t live in a world where everyone is able to be themselves in the workplace, as we know more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work. By taking steps to make their workplaces supportive and welcoming of all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, these organisations are bringing us closer to a world where everyone is accepted without exception.’
