A UK healthcare provider is going beyond lip-service to include LGBT+ groups. Transform Hospital Group has been granted Pride 365 Certification and has to “publicly commit to a set of realistic goals to achieve LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace and in wider society.”
The Certification acknowledges businesses that are putting an end to “pinkwashing“, such as making tokenistic claims to LGBT+ inclusion, in favour of real changes that benefit the community.
Pride 365’s mission is to boost “inclusivity in the workplace and society” and end “the corporate appropriation of the LGBTQ+ community to help create a world of inclusion for everyone.”
The Certification “measures inclusion in the workplace, customer care quality and marketing, and shines a light on work that would otherwise go unseen.” Companies “must match several criteria to be awarded, as well as undergoing an IAT employee survey.” They must also “score a minimum baseline performance and then publicly commit to a path of incremental improvement year on year.”
As part of the pledge, Transform Hospital Group is “committed to being supportive of LGBTQ+ inclusion on a daily basis” and is working with UK transgender charity Sparkle through event sponsorship, and has a “range of inclusion activities” planned throughout the year. They also plan to have an LGBTQ+ Ambassador Programme established across all of its clinic locations.
Jack Mizel, CEO of Pride 365, said: “Pride 365 and its Certification process is for those companies or organisations who are genuine and authentic in their support of the LGBTQ+ community and wish to bring an end to pinkwashing and the corporate appropriation of the LGBTQ+ community.
“There is a fundamental difference between a company showing up at a Pride event, waving a rainbow flag and believing they have done their bit, and one which provides its staff with true equality of opportunity, and recognises and values the LGBTQ+ community 365 days of the year, not just during Pride season.
“We are thrilled Transform Hospital Group has passed the Certification process and look forward to supporting and helping them achieve their objectives over the coming years.”
Tony Veverka, CEO of Transform Hospital Group added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have our commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion rubber-stamped with Pride 365 Certification. Our business is in delivering treatment and care to people from all backgrounds, from weight loss and medical aesthetics to cosmetic surgery – including our Identité offering which provides specialist care to transgender and non-binary patients. As such, it’s vital that we foster a culture of inclusivity and that we’re authentic in everything we do.
“We want to position ourselves as a healthcare brand that is leading the way, creating real change and setting the standard for others in our field, and the Pride 365 Certification recognises the efforts we have made, and continue to make in achieving these goals. It gives us a springboard to further our work in being a force for good for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Our working group and LGBTQ+ Ambassador Programme is just the start.”
