Standard Chartered Bank has been named as a ‘Gold Employer’ in the India Workplace Equality Index 2021 for its work on LGBT+ inclusion. The Gold Award is assigned to employers who have successfully embedded LGBT+ inclusion in their policies, hiring practices, external communication and have demonstrated long-term and in-depth commitment to LGBT+ inclusion.
The Bank has been working continuously to ensure an equal and inclusive workplace for its LGBT+ employees over the past few years and established the SC Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG), to champion initiatives that drive equity and inclusion for the LGBT+ community.
Standard Chartered Bank Head, Corporate Affairs and Brand and Marketing, India and South Asia and Executive Sponsor of the SC Pride India ERG, Gaurav Rajput said this is a significant achievement and validation of the company’s efforts to make the Bank a warm and welcoming place for LGBT+ colleagues.
“We are proud to have been named as a Gold-category employer and reaffirm our commitment to advance the cause of inclusion for the community. Having a safe, supportive and empowering workplace enables all our colleagues to bring their best to work and also contributes to the success of the Bank,” said Gaurav Rajput.
It has conducted multiple sensitisation sessions for employees, hired candidates from the community by participating in job fairs and made available toolkits for employees to raise their awareness on diverse LGBT+ issues covering advocacy, personal pronouns and inclusive language and gender.
It has also extended medical benefits for same-sex partners of employees and actively championed the cause of LGBT+ inclusion and visibility for the cause through internal and external communication. The Bank also works to ensure that the philosophy of inclusion is extended to clients and suppliers – by opening joint savings accounts for same-sex partners and working with LGBT+-owned suppliers.
