People marching with the Pride flag during parade
People marching the Pride flag during parade

LGBT+ inclusion: Can you apply a globally consistent policy across an inconsistent world?

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7 minute read 24 Jun 2019
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New research in collaboration with the New York University School of Law’s Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging explores three models for multinational companies striving to advance LGBT+ inclusion in their workplaces.

Currently, at the time of publishing, homosexuality is criminalized in 73 countries. Multinational corporations with inclusive values can’t ignore this as they work to advance inclusion for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community across the globe. Organizations are grappling with questions, such as how can we make progress when we could be in direct conflict of local laws? And how can we lobby for equality without placing any of our LGBT+ employees or local business at risk of prosecution or abuse?

These are questions that EY has grappled with on our own diversity and inclusiveness journey.

Our journey

At EY, we’ve been on a diversity and inclusiveness (D&I) journey for many years. Diversity paired with inclusion drives business success and better outcomes. LGBT+ inclusion in particular allows companies to attract and retain the best talent, and drive high performance teaming through diversity of thought. It’s the right thing to do and it’s good for business. 

When we really started to dig into LGBT+ inclusion, it didn’t take long to expose the layers of complexity to move the needle towards full inclusion of our vibrant LGBT+ community.

We know that as a multinational organization, we need to be cognizant of the local legislation and social environments in which we operate, we can’t simply set a global policy and walk away. We need to be consistently evaluating and tailoring our LGBT+ inclusion efforts and activating them based on the realities on the ground.

Trent Henry

EY Global Vice Chair – Talent

The convergence of social, legal and company environments layered on top of personal beliefs, opinions and fears can create the perfect formula for a deadlock for progress. Momentum and visibility of the LGBT+ community continues to grow, and we can now leverage progress to consistently and collectively push for inclusion around the globe. “At EY, we believe it is our responsibility to create an environment where each professional can feel like they belong and can bring their true, unique selves to work, making us a stronger organization and better able to service clients. We have member firms in countries in which homosexuality is illegal, and we have a responsibility to provide our employees with a safe workplace where they can thrive,” said Karyn Twaronite, EY Global Vice Chair – Diversity & Inclusiveness.

Portrait of a smiling Mexican woman wearing rainbow sweater
“

At EY, we believe it is our responsibility to create an environment where each professional can feel like they belong and can bring their true, unique selves to work, making us a stronger organization and better able to service clients.

Karyn Twaronite EY Global Vice Chair – Diversity & Inclusiveness

LGBT+ inclusion allows companies to attract and retain the best talent and benefit from diversity of perspectives

Three models for balancing LGBT+ inclusion with local cultural considerations

We’ve collaborated with the New York University School of Law’s Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging on a discussion paper, Opening up the World: How multinational organizations can ascend the maturity curve on LGBT+ rights (pdf) to help spark a conversation among multinational organizations about advancing through three models of LGBT+ engagement.

“This research affirms that multinationals play an important role in promoting equality and a culture of respect in the workplace, and this extends to the communities where they operate. Through dialogue and a thoughtful approach, we can start to open hearts and minds, deepen understanding, remove uncertainty and create pathways toward LGBT+ equality and inclusion in our global workplaces and beyond,” said Beth Brooke-Marciniak, Retired EY Global Vice Chair – Public Policy.

These models were first introduced in 2016 in a Centre for Talent Innovation report, Out in the World: Securing LGBT+ Rights in the Global Marketplace.

When in rome cycle graphic

When in Rome 

This is the earliest model where organizations follow the norms of the jurisdiction by creating exceptions to their pro-LGBT+ policies.  Companies are usually eager to move beyond this stage, but should carefully assess any potential risks that could be detrimental to their employees or their business, before taking action. Some ways that companies can start to build capacity in this model are to cultivate grassroots, local and global leadership champions, focus on allies and begin raising awareness of the value of LGBT+ inclusion.

Embassy cycle graphic

Embassy

In this model, companies apply pro-LGBT+ policies and practices to their own employees without seeking to change the laws or culture outside the company. Policies can include nondiscrimination policies that prohibit sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, provide equivalent medical and other benefits for same-sex spouses and domestic partners, offer training and education on LGBT+ topics, and establish an LGBT+ employee resource group (ERG). To move to the next model, companies can increase focus on leadership champions, invest more time and resources in the ERG, and forge external coalitions with other companies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to be better advocates.

Advoctate cycle graphic

Advocate

This is the state where corporations strive to change the climate in the country, such as by lobbying the government or supporting local activists.  Even when this model is reached, an organization needs to continue to monitor, adjust and improve.  Companies can do this through educating their champions of the types of advocacy that work in certain cultures, securing higher budgets for LGBT+ activities, streamlining approval processes for external advocacy, and ensuring that their initiatives speak to all subgroups within the LGBT+ umbrella.

“The idea that frameworks have even been established around LGBT+ inclusion illuminates the complexity – and opportunity - for making progress,” said Moriaki Kida, EY Regional Chief Operating Officer — Japan and Asia-Pacific Area Special Transition Leader and Global Unity Sponsor. “Regardless of local nuances, one thing is universal, a need for active and visible allies who courageously support LGBT+ employees. Allies can help advance inclusion in a meaningful way and show members of the LGBT+ community they are not alone.”

While the “When in Rome” and “Embassy” models above can be necessary points along the journey to LGBT+ inclusion, companies should not remain in those models longer than necessary. An objective analysis of global LGBT+ inclusion opportunities through an assessment of legal, social and company risks can help organizations feel more prepared to move to the next model.

How do we assess legal, social and company risks for LGBT+ inclusion?

Companies can progress through the models using an LGBT+ growth cycle, in which global leaders and local leaders assess risks in the legal, social and company environment, then build capacity by cultivating internal champions and finally, take action. A risk assessment is the first step, and should be a comprehensive process tailored to your organization.

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    Driving toward change

     

    During our conversations with clients, we often get asked the important question of how? How do you create and inspire diversity and inclusion? How do you bust through bias? How do you build trust and understanding? The reality is there isn’t one single answer. Our report Making it real – globally: a practical guide for advancing lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender diversity and inclusion across global companies (pdf) provides nine ways to advance LGBT+ policy to practice:

     

    1. Conduct an opportunity and risk assessment to identify priorities for action
    2. Set policy globally, calibrate implementation locally
    3. Keep making the business case for diversity, promoting 360 education and storytelling
    4. Engage LGBT+ advocates and allies at all levels of the organization
    5. Build out strategies supporting successful career growth
    6. Create opportunities for reverse mentoring and education of management
    7. Utilize social media and other technology, locally and globally
    8. Develop LGBT+ networks and unify globally
    9. Measure, solicit input and celebrate success

    How EY can help

    Engaging with us

     

    There continues to be much progress to be made in countries throughout the globe. Join in to collectively advance the agenda. Collaborating with other organizations broadens the impact and reduces potential risk.

     

    • Join the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality, a collaboration between the World Economic Forum and leading multinational companies by emailing unity.network@ey.com.
    • Contact EY Teams to talk about how your organization can adopt LGBT+ inclusion best practices.
    • Participate in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #ProudToBelong

    Download our report: LGBT+ inclusion: Can you apply a globally consistent policy across an inconsistent world?

    PDF (1 MB)

    Summary

    New research from the New York University School of Law’s Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, discusses how multinational organizations need to evaluate legal, social and company risk and advance through three models of LGBT+ engagement to further diversity and inclusiveness.

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    EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.