Stonewall Workplace Equality Index - help us improve our workplace

Wednesday, 14 September 2016

Reading is committed to creating an inclusive environment for our staff and students.

The University is once again taking part in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index.

As a Stonewall Diversity Champion, we are committed to ensuring that the University is an inclusive environment for lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) staff and students. The Index helps us track progress made over the past year on promoting LGBT equality at Reading, and helps identify areas that can be further improved. 

Colleagues are invited to complete a short online survey as part of the Index. Although focused on LGBT equality, all colleagues are invited to take part. The survey provides us with a ‘temperature check’ of the attitudes and opinions towards LGBT inclusion at the University. 

To complete the survey you will need to enter our organisation name and access code:

• Organisation: University of Reading
• Access code: 1697

The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete and the closing date is Friday 4 November 2016.

Why is the Index important?

The Index provides us with an opportunity to demonstrate and review the progress we have made over the past 12 months. The survey forms an important part of our performance review- we can measure our actions against feedback from colleagues, and use reoccurring themes or trends to further influence our practices in the future. 

Please be assured that all responses to the survey are anonymous and confidential.

Our targets and progress to date

Earlier this year we announced that Reading aims to become a Stonewall ‘Top 100’ employer by 2018, and aspires to reach the Index top 50 by 2020.

A total of 415 organisations took part in the Index last year; we are currently ranked midway, both overall (204/415) and across the university sector (27/54). 

Over the last 12 months we have joined forces with RUSU and our LGBT Plus staff network to progress our plans for enhancing LGBT equality and inclusion across the University. Highlights have included:  

• Joint events with RUSU to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. 
• Workshop with LGBT Plus staff network to develop an LGBT Allies programme and work on the LGBT action plan.
• LGBT Allies training day led by Stonewall, attended by managers and leaders across the University, including Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell. 
• Support for 8 places on the Stonewall Role Models and Leadership Programmes. 
• Revisions to the monitoring categories for sexual orientation on ESS to bring these in line with Stonewall and HESA recommendations.
• Reading Pride 2016.

If you have any questions about the University's participation in the Workplace Equality Index, please contact Simon Chandler-Wilde, Dean for Diversity and Inclusion.