Vodafone named a Stonewall Top Global Employer for 2020

Vodafone has been named a Stonewall Top Global Employer for 2020, which recognises the best multinational employers for the LGBT+ community.

Stonewall’s Top Global Employers list is based on the LGBT+ charity’s Global Workplace Equality Index, a benchmarking tool which helps employers create more inclusive workplaces across their markets. Employers that make the list have to demonstrate their performance against a set of best-practice criteria, covering nine different points in areas such as employee policy, training, and staff and community engagement.

Nick Read, Vodafone CEO said:

“I am incredibly proud that Vodafone has been recognised as a Stonewall Top Global Employer. Inclusion for All is core to who we are at Vodafone and we remain committed to an inclusive and equal workplace for our LGBT+ colleagues where they can be themselves.”

Nancy Kelley, Stonewall CEO said:

“Vodafone has demonstrated a real commitment to ensuring that all their lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff and stakeholders feel included at work and we’re delighted to name them as one of our Top Global Employers for 2020. Our Top Global Employers are at the forefront of driving global LGBT inclusion in the workplace and inspiring positive social change.”

We’re firm believers that our people can only achieve their best at work when they’re supported and encouraged to be themselves. That’s why we’ve built working environments that champion inclusion and celebrate diversity, ensuring everyone feels welcome from their first day at Vodafone.

Our LGBT + Friends Network is there to support our colleagues and is open to everyone who works with us, whether they’re LGBT+ themselves or they join as an ‘ally’ or ‘friend’.

In 2018, we launched a multi-country programme to help attract and support LGBT+ talent. The programme, LGBT+ and Friends Connect, was informed by research we carried out in partnership with Out Now, where we surveyed more than 3,000 LGBT+ young people across 15 countries and multiple industries to identify the reasons why LGBT+ people might feel unable to be out or open at work.

This research informed our work to create a culture where employees can be open about their sexual orientation and gender identity. This includes:

This year we announced our new global parental leave policy, supporting families in all their diverse forms. The policy is available to all employees – regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or length of service. Any employee whose partner is having a baby, adopts a child or becomes a parent through surrogacy will have the flexibility to take up to 16 weeks paid leave. Vodafone employees will also be able to phase their return from parental leave by working the equivalent of a 30-hour week at full pay for a further six month. This policy is being implemented across Vodafone’s 24 markets and operations in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the US by the end of March 2021.

We’re tremendously proud to be recognised once again by Stonewall as a Top Global Employer. Congratulations to all our LGBT+ colleagues, the network, friends and sponsors – and thank you.

You can learn more about career opportunities and what it’s like to work at Vodafone here.