Tech shamefully missing from Stonewall’s top LGBT employers – but why?

Diversity – everybody’s talking about it – but is it working?

Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers list is the annual definitive ranking of Britain’s most inclusive companies. But, prepare yourself, this year’s league table makes for difficult reading:

Only one tech company – Fujitsu, made the grade.

The equality charity also singled out the tech sector for being underrepresented, alongside other surprises including the arts, retail and travel.

Why should you care?

You may question why we’d need surveys like this in a tolerant society like Britain. But once again, the results reveal that beneath the surface, workers across the country still don’t feel safe, comfortable and respected at work.

Even in 2017, one in eight lesbian, gay and bisexual people don’t feel comfortable disclosing their sexuality to managers or senior colleagues.

And worst still, almost half of trans workers wouldn’t feel comfortable disclosing their gender identity to any customers, clients or users.

Read more: Transgender in tech, in Britain & on Transgender Day of Remembrance

To some these shocking statistics may seem insignificant. But situations like these are having a real impact not just on people’s lives, but also the success of the businesses they work for.

“Technology is the fastest growing sector of the UK economy, but today’s index shows we are risk of turning back the clock as a digital desert emerges in LGBT workplace visibility” said Barry Whyte, co-founder of Series Q, a prominent community for LGBT tech workers.

More than meets the eye?

One prominent LGBT rights campaigner, who asked not to be named, suggested Stonewall’s application process might be putting off fast-growing tech companies:

“The issue is that companies are only ranked if you fill in a very long and detailed evidence form,” they explained.

Compared to banking, consulting and public sector (which dominate Stonewall’s rankings), the tech sector is largely made up of smaller, fast-growing companies, which may struggle to take part and be included in the list.

The bigger issue

We asked Stonewall why tech companies were missing from the 2017 list:

Although the sector remains underrepresented in the Index, we hope to see Fujitsu continue to set such a great example, demonstrating a true commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and helping their lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff to bring their whole selves to work.’

‘While it is important to recognise the sectors and organisations taking great strides and demonstrating best practice, there is nothing to be gained from highlighting those which don’t.

Fujitsu’s example should, of course, be celebrated. But Britain’s economy isn’t all glass skyscrapers filled with multinationals: these corporate giants are, in fact, the 1%.

The work that Stonewall is doing is unquestionably worthwhile, and of course, smaller companies can always take inspiration from big business.

But we also have a responsibility to recognise that smaller companies, and their cultures, matter.

With more people swapping suits for startups, it’s heartening to see a new generation of community groups like Series Q and InterTech stepping in to provide the support they need.

With it, we can build the open, welcoming and tolerant business community Britain deserves.

Editor’s note: Do you think tech still has a problem with diversity? Share your views in confidence with The Memo by email: editorial@thememo.com