Annually, the month of June provides an important opportunity to reflect on the inclusivity of workplaces from an LGBT perspective.

Groups worldwide observe and support Pride Month in many ways - and June was chosen in memory of the Stonewall Riots that took place in 1969.

At Where Women Work we partner with progressive employers who actively support diversity and inclusion - and here are some of the ways these employers are valuing and supporting LGBT employees.

AECOM is a Best Place to Work for LGBT staff

AECOM earned a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. The accolade means the company is one of the ‘Best Places to Work for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality’ in the United States. 

At AECOM, inclusion and diversity are embedded in the company’s core values and are key drivers of its success. AECOM's innovation is enhanced by the diversity of its workforce.

Amazon takes pride in its affinity group, Glamazon

Glamazon helps make Amazon a great place to work by identifying opportunities to educate and inform employees about LGBTQ issues and opportunities, including sponsoring Pride Parades. Amazonians from teams across the business from admins to VPs, product owners to program managers are part of more than 40 glamazon chapters globally.

Arcadis fosters inclusion through Kaleidoscope

The Arcadis LGBT Network, dubbed Kaleidoscope, helps encourage diversity, inclusion and employee happiness within the business.

Read why trans employee Jas Fernandez, a Project Manager at Arcadis, loves working at such an inclusive and diverse company which actively promotes LGBTQ inclusion.

Avon celebrates LGBTQ role models

Avon has a strong track record of standing up for LGBTQ rights and has publicly championed role models including Brazilian drag queen Pabllo Vittar, trans activist Candy Mel, and AURA fragrance creator, Victoria Volkova.

Avon supports the United Nations Standards of Conduct for Business to tackle discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people.

Capgemini supports LGBT+ colleagues 

Capgemini’s LGBT+  network OUTfront supports the company’s Active Inclusion ethos, to drive an organisation that is more inclusive and better equipped to support colleagues and clients in an increasingly diverse global marketplace.

OUTfront challenges homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, while educating people on the importance of inclusion.

Diageo is raising the profile of LGBTQ+ issues

Diageo’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group - the Rainbow Network - is focused on raising the profile of LGBTQ+ issues, ensuring the contributions and talents of all LGBTQ+ employees are embraced and valued. The Rainbow Network also focuses on the broader inclusion and diversity agenda with a vision to build an open and inclusive culture that values diversity and inspires everyone to win together. Fostering an inclusive and diverse culture is central to Diageo’s purpose of Celebrating Life Everyday Everywhere.

Eaton is a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality

Inclusion Eaton Resource Groups (iERGs) bring together employees who share a common purpose, interest or background. Eaton Pride is Eaton's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender iERG in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Eaton Pride creates a safe, supportive and confidential space for Eaton’s LGBTQ employees and their allies. They can share experiences, work together on common goals and provide ideas to help the business evolve towards even greater inclusion and diversity. 

EBRD supports Spectrum of diversity and inclusion

The EBRD is on the path to ever-greater diversity and seeks an increasingly inclusive work environment. 

EBRD Spectrum is the Bank's LGBT network. The network exists to raise the visibility of LGBT staff at the Bank so that employees who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual feel more comfortable about being open about their sexuality in the workplace. 

The network organises several events throughout the year including social events such drinks, dinners, London LGBT Film Festival, films screening, panel discussions, workshops, participation to Pride in London parade, etc. This year, due to the social distancing restrictions, the network is organising a series of events in digital format in June, Pride month.

Exyte celebrates diversity at work

Supporting its employees is a key value that Exyte's leaders share. They believe that diversity of ideas and skills leads to clear business benefits and success. 

The company focuses on providing equal opportunities to all of its people regardless of background, gender, or sexual orientation and supports them in realizing and achieving their full potential.

F5 Networks expands Pride Employee Inclusion Group

At F5, LGBTQ equality is of high importance of the workplace, which is why the company has recently expanded its F5 Pride Employee Inclusion Group (EIG) to the UK and Ireland, and also recently hosted its first pan-EMEA F5 Pride: LGBTQ+ @ Work Symposium, highlighting best practices for diversity and inclusion.

GSK encourages diversity through Spectrum

GSK believes in maintaining an inclusive environment, which reflects the diversity of the patients and customers it serves. This Pride Month, GSK is sharing stories on social media from across its LGBT+ community and highlighting internal and external activities employees get involved in, such as GSK’s panel participation in WorkPride by myGWork.

The company’s LGBT+ employee resource group, Spectrum, has named best LGBT+ employee network group by Stonewall and GSK is currently ranked 6th on the Stonewall workplace equality index of the most inclusive employers. GSK also received a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index.

Medtronic is a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality

Medtronic received a perfect score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index, making the cut as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality.

Medtronic continues to grow an inclusive culture through more than 100 employee resource groups and diversity networks in 60 countries.

They are also a proud Catalyst Award winner for their leading diversity and inclusion efforts and achievements.

Northrop Grumman has pride in diversity

Northrop Grumman has produced a transgender toolkit and education program for managers and employees and runs a Pride in Diversity Alliance employee resource group.

The company is proud to have established a number of programs and initiatives to help further diversity and inclusion throughout the company. 

Nottingham Trent University has a supportive network

Nottingham Trent University offers an LGBT+ Staff Network which is coordinated by a steering group made up of committed members of staff from across the university. 

The network looks for opportunities to raise the profile of LGBT+ equality through events and activities, advises the university on relevant policies and practices, and provides strategic advice on issues affecting LGBT+ staff.

Schneider Electric values employee diversity

Schneider Electric runs a LGBTI employee resource group (ERG) with four chapters.

Schneider Electric CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire says: “At Schneider Electric, building an inclusive community is one of our top priorities. Marking the start of Pride 2020, let’s recognize our LGBT+ community and allies across the world, and support each other by raising awareness and calling out bias.”

Hear from LGBTI ally Amy Haddon.

Spirax-Sarco Engineering supports LGBTQ+ event 

Spirax-Sarco Engineering had lent support for a major conference for the LGBTQ+ community - the UK Pride Organisers Network (UKPON) Annual General Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse that was scheduled to take place end 2020. Due to the pandemic the event was sadly postponed. The event aimed to bring together LGBTQ+ organisers of Pride events in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland.

Event supporter Jim Devine, Group Human Resources Director from Spirax-Sarco Engineering, said: “Spirax Sarco encourages equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplaces, and recognises the value that the diversity of our employees brings to our business. We strive to create a supportive and understanding environment in which all individuals can realise their potential, regardless of differences, and we are delighted to be sponsoring an event that supports these views in the community in which we work.”

Join a progressive employer

Is your employer doing enough to support and encourage an open work culture?

If not, perhaps it's time to change where you take your skills and talent each day by embarking on a new job.