Slaughter and May ranks 8th in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers list for LGBTQ+ people

International law firm Slaughter and May has ranked 8^th in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers list. This is the 6th consecutive year the firm has been included in the Top 100 Employers list and the firm’s highest positioning to date.

For the last twenty years, Stonewall, the world’s second-largest LGBTQ+ charity, has been supporting employers to create welcoming workplaces for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people.

Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers list ranks organisations on their efforts and commitment to creating welcoming environments for their lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer staff. Organisations are ranked by a set of standardised criteria, which includes ensuring HR policies are inclusive of LGBTQ+ people, as well as supporting and celebrating LGBTQ+ identities at work.

According to the charity’s research, more than a third of LGBTQ+ staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work, while one in five (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments because they’re LGBTQ+.

Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall (she/her) said, “We’re delighted for Slaughter and May, whose incredible work towards LGBTQ+ inclusion this year has seen them land at 8^th place in the Top 100. Every employer has a duty to make sure that their LGBTQ+ staff are free from discrimination at work, and our Top 100 list, alongside our Workplace Equality Index helps organisations reflect on their inclusion journey and celebrate best practice.

We spend much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves. That’s why it’s vital that every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person feels like they can be themselves in their workplace.”

Slaughter and May’s LGBTQ+ community is built around PRISM (Pride at Slaughter and May), the firm’s LGBTQ+ and allies network. Established in 2009, PRISM is a platform for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies to network, and plays a central role in LGBTQ+ recruitment and the building of client relationships.

Slaughter and May Executive Partner, Paul Stacey said: “We are pleased to be included in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers list again, and are delighted to be recognised as one of the top 10 employers for LGBTQ+ people. This is an important accolade which reinforces our commitment to providing a supportive environment for all, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.”

The full Top 100 list this year can be found on the Stonewall website, as well as further information about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion, and more information on how the Top 100 list is created.