Wickes Receives Gold For LGBTQ+ Inclusion At Work Commitment

• Wickes awarded gold for their commitment and efforts to become an LGBTQ+ employer
• The award comes as part of LGBTQ+ equality charity, Stonewall’s Bring Yourself To Work campaign which highlights the importance of inclusive work environments
• Alongside the awards, Stonewall has also published its Top 100 Employers List which ranks best organisations for LGBTQ+ employees

Home improvement business Wickes, has received an accolade for its commitment to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in the workplace. 

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

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+. 

As part of Stonewall’s Bring Yourself To Work, the LGBTQ+ equality charity, has published its Top 100 Employers List, awarded a series of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to organisations to celebrate their inclusion work. The charity will also be highlighting the importance of inclusion for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people, and the life-changing impact of being able to bring your whole self to work.

Ben Jackson, Head of Operations - Projects and Let’s Do It Right Network lead (he/his) comments: ‘We’re absolutely thrilled to be achieving gold in the first year of Stonewall’s new accreditation scheme. We’ve worked so hard over the past few years to ensure our LGBTQ+ community are recognised and supported, and their individual identities celebrated; this has meant fundamental changes to our business and to be validated by an industry body such as Stonewall is incredible. This award is for our LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies, and for those individuals in our business who are inclusive everyday; your outstanding efforts have meaningful impact and here’s the proof.’ 

Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall (she/her) said: ‘We spend so much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves. Every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person should be able to be themself at work. From understanding how HR policies, such as parental leave, will affect them, to being reassured that they can speak openly about their lives and partners at the coffee machine, the impact of inclusive workplaces can be life-changing. 

‘It’s fantastic that Wickes has gained gold for their efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of their inclusion journey.’ 

The Stonewall Top 100 Employers list this year can be found on the Stonewall website, as well as further information about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Source : Wickes

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