Fact Service January 2011

Issue 3

Gay-friendly employers

A government department — the Home Office — has been named as the best place to work for lesbian, gay and bisexual people by the campaigning group Stonewall.

Stonewall's Top 100 Employers 2011 showcases Britain’s best employers for gay staff. Second place in the annual survey is taken by the part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group and professional services group Ernst & Young comes third.

This is the first year that a central government department has secured the top position in the Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index, which started in 2005. Sharing joint 93rd place, the Rugby Football League has become the first sports employer to secure a top position and television group ITV is the first broadcaster to enter the Top 100.

The index is based on a range of key indicators which this year included the largest ever confidential survey of lesbian, gay and bisexual employees, with over 9,000 participants. This consistently revealed that the satisfaction levels of gay staff were highest at the top-ranking organisations in the Index.

In the public sector, Hampshire Constabulary was the top police force and ranked fourth overall, while the top council — East Sussex County Council — was in seventh spot. The Midlands-based Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in 12th place topped the NHS league table. Meanwhile, Liverpool John Moores was the top university and ranked 48th overall.

www.stonewall.org.uk/at_work/4763.asp