News - The Vice Chairman of the British Conservative Party and the leader of the House of Lords, both ask employers to keep focusing on equality during the economic downturn.



Margot James, Vice Chairman of the British Conservative Party and Baroness Royall, leader of the House of Lords, both used their keynote speeches at a workplace conference organized by the British gay equality charity Stonewall to highlight that lesbian and gay staff are more productive when fully supported by their employers.

Margot James said: 'I believe that there's a business case as well as a moral case for continuing the battle for greater equality in workplaces. The companies that stay loyal to that agenda will hang on to their quality workforces and their future.'

Jan Royall said: 'Stonewall argues in relation to the workplace that people perform better when they can be themselves and I agree with that. Equality is not only a right in itself, but it makes economic sense too.'

Dr Nicola Brewer, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission also spoke at the conference about the harassment and bullying of gay staff that is reported through the EHRC helpline: 'The message we are getting is that when you are gay, people get personal.' She also commended Stonewall's work: 'I think Stonewall is raising the bar and then punching way above it.'

Stonewall research Peak Performance, released last year, laid out the business case for equality. The survey of lesbian and gay staff found that participants almost universally reported a positive link between an inclusive workplace climate and their own productivity and motivation.

'In the credit crunch, shrewd employers know it makes good business sense not to cut back on robust diversity initiatives,' says David Shields, Stonewall's Director of Workplace Programmes.