A&O named a Top Global Employer by Stonewall for third year running and wins Global Ally Programme Award

This year, 17 organisations have been recognised as Stonewall Top Global Employers 2020. Stonewall has also awarded the firm the Global Ally Programme Award for its LGBT network A&Out.

The Top Global Employers list is compiled from submissions to the Global Workplace Equality Index, a benchmarking tool used by employers to create inclusive workplaces across the market in which they operate. Each entrant compiles a submission demonstrating their organisation’s performance against a set of best-practice criteria accompanied by supporting evidence. The criteria are split across nine different areas of employment policy and practice.

Commenting on being included in the 2020 list, A&O senior partner Wim Dejonghe said; “We’re incredibly proud to be included as a Top Global Employer for a third year running as it represents the ongoing commitment to LGBT equality by our people across our international network. Progress on diversity and inclusion for our business is always cause for celebration but we remain focused on continuing our work.”

A&O’s global LGBT network, A&Out, has local chapters in 33 territories that ensure network activities represent a diverse range of identities. For example, to mark Bi Visibility Day in 2019, A&Out published a global resource called ‘The B in LGBT+’, which included personal accounts of coming out as bi in a global workplace. There was also a Trans Day of Visibility event organised by the network chapter in Sydney.

Partner Jim Ford, Chair of the A&Out network, comments: “The success of the network is down to the hard work of people internally and our approach of close collaboration between the global diversity team, senior leaders and in-country LGBT organisations. We are focused on making sure that we balance our global messages with local nuance, to encourage as much engagement with the network as possible. We are thrilled that the network has been recognized with this award and I look forward to celebrating with colleagues and to the ongoing success of the network.”