New Index to Rate Gay-Friendly Workplaces

A ground-breaking service is set to help Australian employers measure how supportive their workplaces are of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

The Australian Workplace Equality Index is the latest initiative from Pride In Diversity, Australia's first and only employer support program for the inclusion of LGBT people in the workplace.

Pride In Diversity is a program of ACON - NSW's and Australia's largest community-based LGBT health organisation - developed in partnership with Diversity Council Australia - the independent, not-for-profit diversity advisor to business - and London-based LGBT advocacy group Stonewall UK.

Launched today, the Australian Workplace Equality Index is a new free service that evaluates and benchmarks LGBT inclusiveness in Australian workplaces.

Pride In Diversity Director Dawn Hough says the service measures the extent of inclusive human resource policies within an organisation and then rates that workplace against a national index.

"Organisations will then be able to use their ranking on the Index as a simple and effective way to highlight the quality of their diversity practice, especially when recruiting staff," Ms Hough says. "The Index will also be used as an annual showcase of Australia's top employers for LGBT people and provide valuable local statistics and benchmarking data on the inclusive practices of Australian workplaces."

"For workplaces that wish to improve their ranking, Pride In Diversity staff are able to assist with the development of policies and strategies that can better support LGBT staff."

Drawing on similar initiatives in the UK, US and Canada, participating organisations are required to complete a simple survey and supply evidence of relevant workplace policies. Submissions for the inaugural Index are due by 31 March 2011.

The service was launched today in Canberra at the headquarters of the Australian Federal Police, one of the foundation members of the Pride In Diversity program. Other high-profile members of the program include KPMG, ING, IBM, PWC, Lend Lease, Goldman Sachs, Telstra, Chevron, Accenture, Suncorp and the Department of Defence.

Ms Hough says research shows that fear of exclusion or discrimination causes up to one third of LGBT employees to conceal their sexual orientation in the workplace, leading to lower levels of engagement, team cohesion and overall productivity. "However, the same research reveals that 50 per cent of LGBT employees would be more committed, loyal and productive if policies and programs were introduced in their workplace that specifically supported LGBT people."

Ms Hough says the new Index is an important initiative for Australia. "This is the first time that employers will be able to access a service that not only evaluates how inclusive they are of LGBT employees but can also help them develop workplace strategies to ensure a fair go for all their staff."

Some of the factors the Index measures include the use of LGBT inclusive language, the provision of family and other benefits to LGBT employees and same-sex couples, and how homophobia and discrimination against LGBT people is addressed within the workplace.

For more information on The Australian Workplace Equality Index, click here.

For more information or to arrange an interview or photo opportunity, please contact us.

Contact:
Michael Badorrek, Media and Communications Manager, ACON -or-
Dawn Houghs, Pride In Diversity Program Director

Tel: (02) 9206 2001 -or-(02) 9206 2136
Mobile: 0400 358 109  
Email: mbadorrek@acon.org.au -or- dhough@acon.org.au