F5 has deepened its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace by joining the Stonewall Global Diversity Champions Programme.
The pledge was driven by the UK and Ireland branch of the F5 Pride Employee Inclusion group marking the end of month-long workplace celebrations, initiatives and recognition in support of LGBTQ+ History Month in the UK.
Stonewall is Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans quality, working to create a world where every single person can be accepted without exception.
“We are delighted that F5 has joined the Stonewall Global Diversity Programme,” said Garth Heron, Private Sector Account Lead at Stonewall.
“Same-sex relationships are still criminalised in more than 70 countries. Most governments deny trans people the right to legally change their gender from those assigned to them at birth.
The hostility towards LGBT+ people – and their lack of protection from it – means that other institutions often need to fill the gap. This places a significant responsibility on employers who want to uphold inclusive values globally. The best employers understand the need to take inclusivity seriously. They understand that the staff should be able to bring their whole self to work. They understand inclusion drives better individual, business and organisational outcomes.”
Focusing on working with international organisations based in the UK, the Stonewall Global Diversity Champions Programme, which encompasses over 850 members, is the leading initiative of its kind. It involves Stonewall working closely with members to understand specific needs and provide tailored and strategic guidance to drive positive change.
The programme also includes access to a range of tools and networks to ensure continual improvement, legal compliance, and programme relevance over time. To date, the programme has helped to create inclusive and accepting environments for almost a quarter of the UK workforce.
“F5’s guiding principle is to do the right thing – for each other, our customers, shareholders, community, and the world,” said Scott De Buitléir, F5 Pride’s Chapter Chair for the UK & Ireland.
“Joining Stonewall’s Global Diversity Champions Programme is an important part of our ongoing commitment to embody those values. Being able to safely be yourself wherever you are in the world has never been more important. F5 is proud of our partnership with Stonewall, which will constantly improve our ability to be the most supportive and inclusive organisation possible. While we are running this programme from the UK, we fully expect to share learnings and best practices across F5.”
F5 has been working hard to embed diversity and inclusion within the multi-cloud security and application organisation. Its EIG groups (employee resource groups) have been specifically designed to make a difference in the workplace and play a pivotal role in supporting both internal and external communities. Each group has full executive and company backing.
