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IBM 'most gay-friendly
employer'
 11
Jan 2007- IBM has been named as the UK's most gay-friendly employer
in an annual survey by Stonewall.
The gay rights
charity said IBM had done most out of the 100 firms surveyed to put an
effective equality strategy in place and to engage with gay staff.
Staffordshire
Police, the Greater London Authority (GLA), Manchester City Council and
Lloyds TSB were also commended for their approach.
But Stonewall
said gay people still faced obstacles in too many workplaces.
Diversity
principle
Many of the UK's
1.7 million gay and lesbian employees face discrimination, it has
warned. The survey assessed employers' policies on workplace equality,
their record on recruitment and their attitudes to customers.
While IBM topped
the poll, Staffordshire Police ranked second, while the GLA and
Manchester City Council shared third place.
Stonewall said
there had been excellent progress in all areas of the workplace from
which other employers could learn.
"The business
case for addressing effective recruitment and retention of lesbian and
gay staff is increasingly persuasive," said Stonewall's chief executive
Ben Summerskill.
"This work isn't
just about fair treatment, it is about establishing competitive
advantage in the labour market."
IBM said it was
determined to empower all its employees to succeed in the workplace.
"I am convinced
that the principles of diversity, inclusion and equality must sit at the
heart of any truly modern, successful and confident organisation," said
Larry Hirst, IBM's UK general manager.
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