Tower Hamlets respects gay employees Photo: DeSarahaIsis
Tower Hamlets has been recognised as the seventh best place to work in 2010 for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Stonewall, a charity that strives to achieve equality for gays, lesbians and bisexuals, has published its Top 100 Employers List for 2010, which celebrates the most ‘gay-friendly’ organisations in the UK. Tower Hamlets was praised by the charity for their work with their local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) forum, and their involvement in the local LGBT history month.
The borough, which recently appointed a gay chief executive, Kevan Collins, was voted the second highest-ranking local authority and was ranked fourth in the public sector. It has worked to maintain equality in areas including training, monitoring and procurement. NHS Tower Hamlets was ranked 45th in the index, making it the highest ranked NHS body in London.
Alwen Williams, chief executive of NHS Tower Hamlets said: “We are the only NHS organisation in London that has achieved such success and this reflects our commitment to diversity among our staff and potential recruits”.
Stonewall supporter and Tower Hamlets resident Tom Corrall said: “I really enjoy living in a borough where gay people are accepted as part of the community. It’s always nice to know that the local NHS are supportive and non-judgmental; it makes me feel comfortable in life”.
Employers from across the UK apply to be considered within the Stonewall survey, and this year the charity received more entries than ever before. Over 7,000 staff rated their satisfaction levels with their respective employers. It was found that companies who topped the list had employees who were over 10% more satisfied in their jobs than those in the companies outside the top 100.
Ben Summerskill, the Stonewall Chief Executive said: “The Index is a powerful tool used by Britain’s 1.7 million gay employees and 150,000 gay university students to decide where to take their talent and skills”.
Software company IBM was rated as number one for the second time in four years. Finance companies Ernst & Young and Goldman Sachs were both featured within the top five.
