NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has been named one of the most inclusive employers in Britain by lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity Stonewall in its Top 100 Employers list for 2020.
NHSBSA has placed 51st on this year’s list, making an incredible leap from 88th place in 2019 to 51st this year.
Stonewall’s criteria for its list of top 100 employers are rigorous. It is an annual audit of LGBT inclusion by employers across workplaces, services and communities. More than 500 organisations participated this year, the most that have ever taken part.
Stonewall’s 2018 Work Report revealed more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) have felt they had to hide that they are LGBT at work and almost one in five LGBT employees (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments from colleagues because of their identity.
Michael Brodie, Chief Executive of NHSBSA said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have moved up the Workplace Equality Index to 51st place, a huge jump from 88th last year. This achievement is testament to the hard work of our Wellbeing and Inclusion team and amazing staff networks, and reflects the fantastic strides we’re making in creating a great, inclusive place to work here at the NHS Business Services Authority. Being able to be our authentic selves and give and be our best in the workplace profoundly matters and as such this reflection of the lived experience of our LGBT+ colleagues is so important to us and is something of which we’re very proud.”
Sanjay Sood-Smith, Stonewall’s Executive Director of Workplace & Community Programmes, said: “We are delighted to name NHSBSA as one of our Top 100 Employers this year. All the organisations in 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, businesses like NHSBSA are bringing us closer to a world where everyone is accepted without exception.”
Stonewall’s Top 100 is compiled from submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, a powerful benchmarking tool used by employers to assess their achievements and progress on LGBT equality in the workplace, as well as their wider work in the community and on service provision.
Each organisation must demonstrate their expertise in 10 key areas including employment policy and practice, networking groups, senior leadership, procurement and how well they’ve engaged with LGBT communities.
To see the full list, visit: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/full-list-top-100-employers-2020