The Firm receives Silver Award for commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion at work
- Osborne Clarke has received a silver award for its commitment and efforts to become an LGBTQ+ employer
- The Firm has jumped 159 places in the index, having ranked 272 out of 503 participants in 2021, it now ranks 113th out of 403 and 16th of 34 in the legal sector
- 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
International legal practice Osborne Clarke has received an accolade for its commitment to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in the workplace.
This year, Osborne Clarke rose from a ranking of 272 to 113 and achieved a silver award 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, across the country, 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 identify as LGBTQ+.
Since 2005, Stonewall has helped organisations assess their LGBTQ+ inclusion practices through its Workplace Equality index, publishing its Top 100 Employers List. This year it has also awarded a series of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to organisations to celebrate their inclusion work.
Osborne Clarke has been a member of the Stonewall Diversity Champions programme, benefitting from the insight and guidance of the charity to broaden and deepen its umbrella of support for its LGBTQ+ staff.
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 Osborne Clarke has gained the silver award for its efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of its inclusion journey.’
James Turner, Co-Chair of Osborne Clarke's Pride Network, said: ""We're committed to making OC an inclusive workplace and thrilled to have taken such a big step forward on the Index, especially facing the challenges of Covid. We want to do what's right for all our people, so they can feel proud to work in a business that values every person and celebrates their unique contributions."
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.
In addition to the Firm's strong improvement in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, it jumped 33 places in the 2021 UK Social Mobility Index and now ranks 48th out of 203 participating employers. Osborne Clarke was recognised as the UK's leading law firm of the year by Law.com at the British Legal Awards, Ray Berg recently made The Lawyer's Hot 100 2022 ranking and its also ranked as a top 10 European firm in the category of Law Firm Transformation by the Financial Times in 2021.
