NCM were pleased to be in attendance for an LGBT Inclusion at Work event, organised by Good Practice, Edinburgh based e-learning company & Stonewall Scotland, a campaign organisation for the promotion of equality and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people.
During this interactive and thought-provoking session, Jake Laws, Programme Officer at Stonewall, explored what it means to be LGBT in the UK today and the challenges that LGBT employees face through discrimination, harassment or mistreatment in the work place.
The session included a look at case studies involving companies that have implemented effective changes to combat conscious and unconscious bias towards LGBT employees. Companies that look to address these issues though through their hiring strategies, policy handbook, networks and practices have built a wider culture of inclusivity, which benefits many other areas of the business.
According to Stonewall, LGBT employees who spend considerable time and effort hiding their identity in the workplace, experience higher levels of stress and anxiety resulting in health problems and work related complaints. Therefore an LGBT friendly workplace will lead to the improved health, increased job satisfaction, better relationships with co-workers and supervisors, and greater work commitment among the LGBT workers.
Stonewall operates workplace LGBT Champion & Trans Allies programmes which give companies the tools needed to take a strategic and structured approach to equality initiatives and provides a network to keep you informed of legal changes and implications for your staff wherever they are in the world.
Stonewall: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/global-diversity-champions-programme
Good Practice: https://www.goodpractice.com/home/
NCM would like to thank Good Practice & Stonewall, as well as the Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, for an excellent evening.