"It’s an honour to work with such a legendary and influential organisation and [we] can’t wait to bring the specialist tools into the business to find ways to progress and evolve our empowerment culture."
- Gemma Jackson, head of diversity, equity and inclusion
As a Stonewall Diversity Champion, RSA Insurance (RSA) will be working closely with the charity to empower its LGBTQ+ colleagues and customers, as well as continue to embed inclusivity in its culture. This will ensure RSA appears in the Workplace Equality Index, joining a network of 850+ leading organisations.
As part of this commitment, colleagues will be provided with access to specialist support, resources and various workshops to help promote awareness, inclusion, and cultural competency. So far, RSA has adopted Zoteria, developed by the Vodafone Foundation in partnership with Stonewall and Galop. This app supports LGBTQ+ communities by creating a place where anyone can anonymously report a hate incident. RSA will shortly be adding pronouns to company email signatures.
RSA will now receive access to Stonewall’s research and benchmarking data which will allow the insurer to better measure, track, an generate actionable insight to improve empowerment among LGBTQ+ colleagues and customers.
Recently, Stonewall’s landmark study: LGBT in Work, uncovered concerning figures relating to discrimination in the workplace. Of those survey, almost one in five (18%) of LGBT employees have been targeted with negative comments or conduct from colleagues in the workplace. 51% of trans people have hidden their identity at work for fear of discrimination, and 49% of non-binary people adjust how they dress for fear of discrimination or harassment. Meanwhile, one in eight (12%) of Black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT people have lost their jobs because of how they identify, compared to 4% of White LGBT employees.
RSA believes this research underscores the need for a vigilant and consistent effort towards education and awareness in the workplace.
Commenting on this announcement, Gemma Jackson, head of diversity, equity and inclusion at RSA, has said:
“The above statistics relating to LGBTQ+ discrimination have galvanised our decision to work with Stonewall to identify every possible area where we can inflect our inclusivity and make RSA a place where difference is utterly celebrated and properly supported to thrive.
“A learning from Stonewall’s successful campaigning that held particular resonance for me is that the workplace can be a powerful influencer for societal change. The best employers understand why all colleagues should feel welcome, respected and represented at work. They know that inclusion drives better individual, business and organisational outcomes.
“Building resilient communities and helping society to prosper are fundamental to our role as a responsible business. At the core of our DEI strategy that extends into 2030 is the understanding that programmes that bring greater equity and safety for all colleagues to show up as themselves and thrive, benefit everyone. Empowered individuals help to build communities where everyone can achieve their full potential.”
