Citi Belfast recognised by Stonewall UK Workplace Equality Index Awards 2022 for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Workplace
Citi has been named among the UK’s Top 100 most inclusive employers by Stonewall, the world’s second-largest LGBTQ+ charity, with Citi’s Belfast teams receiving added commendation by receiving the title of Northern Ireland Employer of the Year. Infrastructure Senior Technology Analyst Hannah McNamara, has also been recognized as a ‘Changemaker of the Year’ for her tireless work to shift mindsets and provide leadership in enabling important discussions to promote cultural changes at an organizational level role through her work as Co-Chair of Citi Belfast’s Pride Network. Citi also ranked 11th out of 403 organisations within Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers List, which ranks organisations on their efforts and commitment to creating welcoming environments for their lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer staff.
Sharing the exciting news with the Citi Belfast Team Leigh Meyer, Site Head of Citi Belfast, said, “Citi is proud to have been recognised with several awards from the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index 2022, reflecting our commitment and efforts to be an LGBTQ+ inclusive employer. We are incredibly proud of these awards and of the work taking place in Northern Ireland to advance the rights and inclusion of LGBTQ+ colleagues and wider community. We are especially proud of Hannah McNamara’s Change Maker of the Year Award and would like to thank the award-winning Belfast and London Pride Networks, Hannah, and everyone who contributes to this incredibly important work.”
Commenting on her personal recognition Hannah McNamara said, “I am very honoured to have been awarded one of Stonewall's Changemaker of the Year awards. Working at an inclusive and diverse company like Citi gave me the confidence to bring my full self to work and have the voice to make changes that benefit all LGBTQ+ people and our allies. When I first started working at Citi, conversations about inclusion were already happening thanks to those who came before me and the support from our senior leaders. I am thankful for them to have created a safe and welcoming space to allow people like me to grow and make change at a local and global level."
Reflecting on the strength of Citi Belfast’s efforts for LGBTQ+ inclusion, Peter Holden, Global Head of End User Services and business sponsor of the Citi Belfast Pride Network added, “Since entering the Stonewall Index, the Pride Network and the wider Belfast site have worked tirelessly to implement hundreds of changes to make our workplace more inclusive. It is fantastic to see the outcomes we have achieved formally recognized, confirming that Citi is a great place to bring your whole self to work.”
Stonewall's research shows that more than a third of LGBTQ+ staff (35 per cent) in the UK hide who they are at work, while one in five (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments because they’re LGBTQ+. As a global financial institution, Citi is doubling down on efforts to promote more welcoming workplaces, share best practice and collaborate with its networks for greater levels of LGBTQ+ inclusion across the world.
Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall (she/her) said: “We spend so much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves. Every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person should be able to be themselves at work. From understanding how HR policies, such as parental leave, will affect them, to being reassured that they can speak openly about their lives and partners at the coffee machine, the impact of inclusive workplaces can be life-changing.
“It’s fantastic that Citi has gained the Gold Award for their efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of their inclusion journey.”
The Stonewall Top 100 Employers list is compiled from submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, a powerful benchmarking tool used by employers to assess their achievements and progress on LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace. Further details on the Index can be found on the Stonewall website, as well as further information about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion.