The Royal College of Psychiatrists has been recognised by Stonewall as one of the country’s leading employers for LGBTQ+ people.
The College was awarded Silver in the charity’s Workplace Equality Index which recognises employers that have demonstrated a commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace.
The College was commended for its work which saw it deliver more than 300 actions to promote LGBTQ+ equality across the organisation last year. This included updating all HR policies in partnership with Stonewall, launching its first LGBTQ+ survey of members, celebrating Pride and LGBTQ+ History Month, ensuring all job vacancies are advertised on LGBTQ+ websites and introducing gender-neutral toilets at its London offices.
Dr Adrian James, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
“We are delighted to receive this award which recognises our efforts to ensure LGBTQ+ employees feel comfortable being themselves at work.
“Nobody should feel they must hide who they are at work. That’s why we’re committed to benchmarking ourselves against other employers as part of Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index. By comparing our performance, we can ensure we continue to offer a safe and supportive working environment for staff, members, patients and carers.”
As part of Stonewall’s ‘Bring Yourself To Work’ campaign, the LGBTQ+ equality charity published its Top 100 Employers List and awarded a series of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to organisations to celebrate their inclusion work. The charity is also 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.
Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall, congratulated the College:
“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.”
The Royal College of Psychiatrists published its Equality Action Plan in January 2021, setting out how it plans to promote equality and equitable outcomes for College members, staff, mental health staff, and patients and carers.