Both organisations have today (23 Wednesday February) been recognised by Stonewall’s ‘Bring Yourself to Work’ inaugural awards.
The city council has won a silver award and Wolverhampton Homes has been given bronze.
Stonewall is recognised as the world’s second largest LGBT+ charity. For 20 years, the charity has been supporting employers to create welcoming workplaces for LGBT+ people.
According to Stonewall research, more than a third of LGBT+ staff (35%) hide who they are at work, while 1 in 5 (18%) have been the target of negative comments because they are LGBT+.
As part of Stonewall’s ‘Bring Yourself To Work’ campaign, the charity has awarded a series of gold, silver and bronze awards to organisations to celebrate their inclusion work.
Both the City Council and Wolverhampton Homes provided evidence to the award judges of a firm and visible commitment to LGBT+ equality and making their workplaces safe and welcoming places for LGBT+ people.
Councillor Paula Brookfield, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for governance, said: “I could not be prouder than to learn that we have won this silver award recognising our commitment to LGBT+ equality and inclusion during what is LGBT+ History Month.
“We passionately believe that people should be free to be themselves in work and in life, they should feel safe and welcome and we are working extremely hard to ensure our council continues to create this environment.
“Formal recognition and endorsement from Stonewall signals to our existing staff and anyone of thinking to coming to work here that inclusivity and equality are part of who we are.”
Angela Davies, chair and tenant board member for Wolverhampton Homes, said “We're thrilled to receive a bronze award from Stonewall. We are committed to creating an inclusive place to work and we know our colleagues perform best when they can be themselves.
“Our Equality Champions employee network is made up of colleagues across the business who have worked hard on a range of projects and initiatives, helping us to create a real sense of belonging.
“We are proud of what we've achieved so far and we know there is still more to do, but to receive this award is fantastic recognition of the progress we have made and our ongoing commitment to LGBT+ equality for customers and colleagues.”
Liz Ward, director of programmes at Stonewall 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 themselves 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.
“It’s fantastic that City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolverhampton Homes have gained these awards for their efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of their inclusion journey.”
