Only one in four LGBT staff happy to reveal sexuality

MI5, Lloyds Banking group and the National Assembly for Wales have been recognised as the most inclusive sexuality employers by Stonewall.

However, just one in four (27%) lesbian, gay and bisexual people responding to the Workplace Equality Index felt comfortable disclosing their sexual orientation to all colleagues and customers.

Encouragingly senior leaders are showing more commitment to lesbian, gay and bi equality now (63%) than in the previous year (53%).

The Top 100 Employers list, created by the lesbian, gay, bi and transgender (LGBT) equality charity was compiled from submissions to its Workplace Equality Index.

More than 400 organisations (the highest in its 12 year history) and 60,000 staff took part in the index which is completed by anonymous survey about employers’ attitudes towards workplace culture, diversity and inclusion.

MI5 director-general Andrew Parker said: “Diversity is vital for MI5, not just because it’s right that we represent the communities we serve, but because we rely on the skills of the most talented people whoever they are, and wherever they may be.”

Outside London, Wales and the East Midlands had the most organisations featured in this year’s index – 12 and nine respectively.

 

Other notable results were:

People who were out as LGB at work experienced better job satisfaction and had a higher sense of achievement, according to 67% of respondents

More visible LGBT role models are required: just 11% of respondents believed there were bi role models at work; 19% saw trans role models, 42% saw lesbian role models and 53% saw gay role models

Just 42% of trans respondents said that senior leaders demonstrated a visible commitment to trans equality at work

Organisations from the legal and housing sectors dominated the Top 10, and across the Top 100 local government, education and health and social care were the most featured sectors.