Equality for all (Stonewall Index 2012)
Waltham Forest Council has been recognised once again as one of the UK’s top 100 best employers of gay staff and one of only four London councils to make the grade.
The Top 100, compiled annually by leading lesbian, gay and bisexual rights charity Stonewall, is the definitive national benchmark for showcasing the country’s top employers for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.
Waltham Forest comes in at number 92, becoming one of only four London boroughs to be in the top 100. This is out of a total of 363 employers, collectively employing more than 1.9 million people that entered the index this year. Stonewall’s Chief Executive Ben Summerskill commented that:
“Submissions to the Index have been tested against new and tougher criteria this year, which makes the accomplishments of the Top 100 Employers even more impressive. Participating in the Index is a signal to staff, customers and services users of your commitment to equality and we’re proud to showcase these achievements.”
The Workplace Equality Index is marked out of a total of 200 points. Each section of the Index is weighted for its impact on organisational culture. This year, scores ranged between 9 and 185 and a score of 130 was needed to reach the Top 100. The average score for employers in the Top 100 was 152 points and the average score of all submissions was 98 points.
The past year has seen the Council continue to improve its work with local schools and its influential LGBT steering group; up the ante with regards its equalities training and deliver the action plan that resulted from important research undertaken into the opinions and experiences of the local LGBT community.
Director of Residents First and the Council's LGBT Equalities champion Michele Moloney said:
"It is really important to Waltham Forest that people feel comfortable in their working environment so that they can deliver their best. We are delighted that Stonewall has recognised the efforts of the authority to create an inclusive and welcoming workforce for gay, lesbian and bisexual staff and we will do our best to continue to improve our working practices and our Stonewall rating in future years."
Cllr Afzal Akram, Waltham Forest’s Cabinet Member responsible for the Council’s corporate resources, said:
“This is great news for Waltham Forest in particular given the high numbers of employers that entered the index and the application of an even more stringent criteria than the previous year. It is recognition to our continued commitment towards making the organisation as open and inclusive as possible.”
“Waltham Forest wants to attract and retain the best talent regardless of background or sexual orientation, and it’s achievements like this that contribute to being a good employer.”
» To find out more about Waltham Forest Council’s equalities work, visit our social issues pages
» To find out more about Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2012 visit www.stonewall.org.uk
Useful addresses
East London Out Project (ELOP)
56-60 Grove Road
Walthamstow E17 9BN
Tel 020 8509 3898
Minicom 020 8521 4895
Fax 020 8521 4720
More information?
For more information please contact the Equalities Team on 0208 496 3000
