2021 South African Workplace Equality Index (SAWEI) is live

Companies are invited to participate in this year’s South African Workplace Equality Index (SAWEI), the Africa-Middle East region’s only index measuring levels of LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace.

By measuring internal policies and behaviours around LGBT+ issues, the biennial nationwide voluntary study allows companies to identify their relative strengths and areas for improvement within a clearly structured framework based on international best practice.

“Businesses are more successful and more competitive when everyone comes to work with equal respect, support, and opportunity for advancement, no matter whom they love or how they identify,” said the LGBT+ Management Forum, which compiles the index.

This will be the third time that SAWEI has been run in South Africa, and is similar to benchmarking programmes in Australia, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Canada, India and Mexico. Participation is free, and the survey will run for three months, with results to be shared in November this year.

Corporate participation in SAWEI is growing year on year. The first survey in 2018 saw 17 companies employing 30,000 people participating in the survey. In 2019. the numbers increased to 27 companies with 144,000 employees, including Gold recognition for Microsoft, EY, Accenture, P&G and PWC.

All participating companies receive a free independently verified report to measure their progress against independently determined and research-based best practice regarding LGBT+ inclusion.

“By creating environments that offer the opportunity for each employee to truly and wholly express their individuality, companies can offer the space for creativity, collaboration and connectedness to thrive,” said Farai Morobane of the LGBT+ Forum steering committee.

“The index is gathering momentum as more companies choose to be measured in this free-to-participate programme. We are looking forward to speaking to all companies genuinely looking to make their workplace equal and inclusive for all.”

The South African LGBT+ Management Forum aims to create a safe and equitable workplace for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression by measuring, educating, leading, networking and celebrating, and by developing the next generation of visible leaders.

Those companies that wish to participate in the 2021 South African Workplace Equality Index can enter and find more information on the SAWEI website.