Nancy Kelley, chief executive of Stonewall, said “The progress we’ve made towards LGBT equality has never felt more fragile, so it’s inspiring to see the work our Top Global Employers are doing to protect and support their LGBT staff in some extremely difficult contexts. We know that getting this right isn’t easy, but it is vital – especially because not all parts of the world are progressing at the same pace.”
120 countries still don’t have employment place protection for LGBT staff with 70 counties having anti-LGBT legislation.
“While some countries moved forward this year, like Gabon, who decriminalised same-sex relationships, others, like Poland and Hungary, have rowed back the rights of LGBT people. All of this has been happening while we are still living through a global pandemic that’s hitting some LGBT people harder than others” Kelley added. “That’s why it’s crucial for companies like our Top Global Employers to step up and make sure their LGBT staff and customers are looked after. Multinational companies have a powerful part to play in driving equality and progress in society. With their help, every lesbian, gay, bi and trans person can be accepted without exception, wherever they are in the world.”
Participants in the GWEI are assessed on their HR policies, training, staff engagement, leadership, monitoring, procurement, community engagement and understanding local context, global mobility, and additional in-country activity.
The top employers 2020 are Accenture( financial services) Allen & Overy (law), Baker McKenzie (law) BP (energy) Bryan Cave Leighton Pasner (law) Dentons (law) Fidelity International (finance) Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (law) GSK (pharmaceuticals) Herbert Smith Feehills (law) Hogan Lovells (law) HSBC (finance) Natwest (finance) Pinsent Masons (law) Simmons & Simmons (law) Vodafone (telecoms) and Zurich Insurance (finance)