Stonewall Workplace Equality Index - help us improve our workplace

Monday, 25 September 2017

The University of Reading 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 3 November 2017.

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 recurring themes or trends to 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

In February 2016, we announced that Reading aims to become a Stonewall ‘Top 50’ employer by 2020. We are currently ranked 168 out of the 439 employers that applied for this scheme - a major improvement on 2016 when we were ranked 204 out of 415 employers.

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:  

• Our inaugural Wolfenden Lecture in May, given by Ruth Hunt the Chief Executive of Stonewall
• Joint events with RUSU to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. 
• Recruitment of visible LGBT Allies across the University, including LGBT Ally recruitments events led by the LGBT Plus staff network, RUSU and the Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell. 
• Support for 8 places on the Stonewall LGBT and Bi Role Models and Leadership Programmes. 
• Our participation in Reading Pride 2017.

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.