Gay equality group Stonewall is encouraging employers in the private sector to enter its annual Workplace Equality Index for 2008, showcasing the UK’s top 100 employers for gay people.
Technology firm IBM topped the list for 2007, followed by last year’s winner, Staffordshire Police. The Greater London Authority and Manchester City Council tied for third place.
IBM was joined in the top 10 by three private sector organisations, namely Lloyds TSB, Goldman Sachs, and KPMG. However, according to Stonewall, the index was largely under-represented by private sector organisations, with just 28 in the top 100.
It cited the retail, industrial and pharmaceutical sectors among those under-represented.
A separate survey by financial services recruiter Joslin Rowe, in May, found that City employers are beginning to overcome their traditional image as inhospitable places for gay and lesbian workers.
Will Martin, manager of workplace programmes at Stonewall, said: “We strongly encourage employers to enter the index to benchmark themselves against Britain’s leading employers for lesbian and gay people, and to set themselves goals for improvement in this area.”
Want to be considered for the index? Fill in the index questionnaire.
