Standard Chartered Bank named ‘Gold Employer’ in the India Workplace Equality Index 2021 on LGBT+ Inclusion

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. 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.

Gaurav Rajput, Head, Corporate Affairs and Brand and Marketing, India and South Asia and Executive Sponsor of the SC Pride India ERG, Standard Chartered Bank, said, “This is a significant achievement and validation of our 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.”