A&O recognised by Stonewall for commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion at work

Stonewall’s top 100 employers list ranks organisations in the UK on their efforts and commitment to creating welcoming environments for their LGBTQ+ staff, and placed A&O 40th on the list for 2022. Meanwhile the Gold Employer award comes as part of the charity’s Bring Yourself to Work campaign which highlights the importance of inclusive work environments.

Commenting on the recognition, senior partner Wim Dejonghe said: “It is a great honour to be recognised by Stonewall for our commitment to supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues. We want people to feel completely able to bring their authentic selves to work, and much of the progress we have made has been driven by A&Out, our award-winning global network for our LGBTQ+ community with over 150 members and 750 allies across the world. With the help of A&Out we have prioritised areas where we will continue to improve, including ongoing work to promote an inclusive working environment, ensuring our global polices are inclusive, and helping our people understand all strands of LGBTQ+.”

Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall (she/her) said: “We spend so much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves. Every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person should be able to be themself at work. From understanding how HR policies, such as parental leave, will affect them, to being reassured that they can speak openly about their lives and partners at the coffee machine, the impact of inclusive workplaces can be life-changing.”

According to the charity's research more than a third of LGBTQ+ staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work, while one in five (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments because they’re LGBTQ+.

The full Top 100 list this year can be found on the Stonewall website as well as further information about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion, and more information on how the Top 100 list is created.