Stonewall has named the Home Office as the best place to work for lesbian, gay and bisexual people because of its specifically inclusive policies and efforts to embed equality and diversity into everything it does.
The Lloyds Banking Group was ranked second in the gay rights charity’s Top 100 Employers index, while accountancy firm Ernst & Young came in third. International law firm Baker & McKenzie was also commended for being the Most Improved Employer.
Stonewall’s chief executive Ben Summerskill said: “The confidence of openly gay business leaders and public servants has raised the aspirations of LGB people entering the labour market, and gay people have never been more demanding of their employers. In an environment where the battle for talent is as fierce as the focus on market share, we are proud to showcase employers giving themselves the edge in the marketplace.”
The Index is based on a range of indicators, which includes a confidential survey of more than 9,000 LGB staff. Although it has been running since 2005, this is the first time that a central government department has secured the top slot.
The Rugby Football League was also the first sports employer to be listed, while ITV likewise became the first broadcaster to enter the Top 100.
Stonewall indicated that there were 1.7 million gay employees in the UK and 150,000 gay university students. The 2003 Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations made workplace discrimination against gay people illegal, a situation that was consolidated in the Equality Act 2010.
