Stonewall names JLL one of Britain's top 100 LGBT- inclusive employers for the second year running

JLL ranks 59th on LGBT charity’s annual list of inclusive employers and is the highest ranked organisation within the property, construction and engineering sector. In addition, the global property firm is one of only 20 organisations named by Stonewall as a Top Trans Employer.

January 30, 2020

For the second consecutive year, JLL has been named one of the most inclusive employers in Britain by lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality charity Stonewall in its Top 100 Employers list for 2020. JLL has been placed 59th on this year’s list.

The property consultant was also, for the first time, ranked in as one of only 20 organisation’s recognised as a Top Trans Employer, in recognition of the firm’s support for trans and non-binary employees in its UK workplaces.

This year’s Top 100 was the largest ever with 503 employers entering, demonstrating their commitment to LGBT workplace inclusion.

As part of the Top 100, Stonewall collects more than 109,000 anonymous responses from employees on their experience of Britain’s workplace culture and diversity. This year, 81 per cent of LGBT employees who responded to the survey said they feel able to be themselves in the workplace. 

  

Chris Ireland, JLL UK CEO, said: “It is testament to our commitment to diversity and inclusion that once again we are the highest ranked property adviser in Stonewall’s Top 100 list. It’s inspiring to be positioned alongside other progressive organisations who share the same values and openness to equality as we do.

“We want JLL to provide the best working environment for all our people; we are achieving this through building a culture that supports everyone to be themselves and recognises the value individuals bring to our business. 

“I am also committed to driving improvements across the property sector - an industry which is widely recognised as being slower to embrace diversity and inclusion. The good news is it is waking up to the importance of change and I hope to see more of our industry peers on the Top 100 list next year.”

Claire England, JLL UK Diversity and Inclusion director, said: “Our ranking as a Top 20 trans employer shows the progress we have made to foster a safe and supportive working environment for our trans and non-binary colleagues. Over the last 12 months, we have introduced our ‘Transitioning in Workplace policy, delivered Trans Ally training, sponsored the annual Trans in the City event, and raised awareness of the trans community through a series of talks delivered by trans role models. 

“In the past five years we have moved up192 places in the Stonewall index and everyone at JLL should be proud of this achievement. That’s not to say, we will rest of on our laurels - we are acutely aware LGBT hate crimes have risen by 55% in the last five years which is horrifying, and we must strive for equality.”

Stonewall’s 2018 Work Report revealed more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) have hidden they are LGBT at work and almost one in five LGBT employees (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments from colleagues because of their identity.

Sanjay Sood-Smith, Stonewall’s Executive Director of Workplace & Community Programmes, said: 'We are delighted to name JLL as one of our Top 100 Employers this year. All the organisations in this year's Top 100 Employer's list are playing a huge role in improving the lives of LGBT people and should be very proud of their work.

'We still don't live in a world where everyone is able to be themselves in the workplace, as we know more than a third of LGBT staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work. By taking steps to make their workplaces supportive and welcoming of all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, businesses like JLL are bringing us closer to a world where everyone is accepted without exception.’

Stonewall’s Top 100 is compiled from submissions to the Workplace Equality Index, a powerful benchmarking tool used by employers to assess their achievements and progress on LGBT equality in the workplace, as well as their wider work in the community and on service provision.

Each organisation must demonstrate their expertise in 10 areas of employment policy and practice, including networking groups, senior leadership, procurement and how well they’ve engaged with LGBT communities.

To see the full list, please visit: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/full-list-top-100-employers-2020

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. Our vision is to reimagine the world of real estate, creating rewarding opportunities and amazing spaces where people can achieve their ambitions. In doing so, we will build a better tomorrow for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.3 billion, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 93,000 as of September 30, 2019. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated.