Prague Pride 2018 – ERG networking event
As a part of the Prague Pride festival we traditionally hosted a networking event getting together members of internal LGBT employee resource groups – this year's edition was hosted in Keza Concept Store. Sharing their progress and preparations for the Prague Pride Parade were representatives of Accenture, ADP, Exxonmobil, Microsoft, SAP or Vodafone.
On Friday 15 June, the eighth edition of the Pride Business Forum took place at Prague's Hilton Prague Old Town. This largest conference focusing on the issue of LGBT equality in the workplace in the Czech Republic brought case studies from both international and local environment, workshops, panel discussion and first edition of LGBT Friendly Employer Award, dedicated to companies focusing on LGBT equality. This year's Pride Business Forum focused on how values of diversity are reflected in corporate missions and what effect they have on business performance.

LGBT Friendly Employer Award Ceremony

The LGBT Friendly Employer Award was initiated jointly by the Pride Business Forum platform and bePROUD. Employers of all sizes ranging from public, public business entities all the way to state administration and non-profit organizations could have nominated themselves for the award.

LGBT Friendly Employer wants to appreciate, motivate and make visible the efforts of employers to implement measures aimed at better inclusion of LGBT staff in the Czech Republic. A strategic approach to this area, specific projects and tools supporting the inclusion of LGBT staff is being evaluated. The award also takes into account how this topic is supported by the company's top management and how it is communicated internally to the employees and externally to the public.

Amazon and Innogy joined the Pride Business Memorandum 2017+

Part of the conference was the ceremonial signing of the new signatory companies under "Pride Business Forum Memorandum 2017+". Its goal is to encourage employers to implement LGBT diversity and employee principles in their efforts to achieve a fair business approach for everyone regardless of sexual orientation. At the same time, the Memorandum should develop a public debate on this issue.

The new signatories are Amazon and Innogy

Why did the new signatories join this initiative?
Karel Foltýn, Head of HR for Central and Eastern Europe, Amazon: "Our employees come from different backgrounds and being able to be who they are is one of the factors that helpes them strive at work as well. There are many informal groups in Amazon that meet people from different countries and corporate departments. One of them is the Glamazon group, which was formed to express LGBT support to the community. Glamazon's main goal is to link LGBT staff and emphasize the role that diversity plays in our company."

Erika Vorlová, Director of HR, innogy Czech Republic: "As every person is unique, every employee is unique. In innogy, we want employees not to be afraid to show different sexual orientation. We know that if one wants to feel good, he must be at home not only at home but also at work. If this condition is not met, such an employee spends an unreal amount of power and energy on hiding his orientation. We want to avoid this in innogy and our goal is to create an open and respectful environment for all employees. "
Former Memorandum Signatories are: Accenture, Clearstream Operations, Vodafone CR, Hilton Hotel Prague, IBM, Ogilvy, SAP CR, SAP Services, Ariba Czech, Concur, Prague Pride, Business for the Company.
Main award: „LGBT Friendly Employer 2018 Champion“
The jury appreciated Vodafone's sophisticated strategy and approach to LGBT equality at workplace. The open approach is supported not only by the parent company, but the company has managed to adapt it to local needs and involve management and employees.
Vodafone can serve as an example to others in the area of employee benefits by reconciling benefits for LGBT couples, but also for rainbow families (10 days after birth or adoption of the offspring are also obtained by the same-sex couples).
The LGBT Inclusion theme actively communicates with employees, for example, organizing an employee collection for sbarvouven.cz (and multiplication of the collected amount by Vodafone Foundation). 100 employees, including management, participated in last year's Prague Pride parade. The company communicates the topic, some meeting rooms are decorated to represent the LGBT theme. The company is dedicated to the topic of transgender people and has introduced gender neutral toilets.​
Speciální award: „LGBT Friendly Employer 2018 Employee driven initiatives“
The jury appreciated the work of ExxonMobil BSC Czechia in the area of LGBT diversity. Pride Chapter employee resource group organizes lectures (on topics such as LGBT families, marriages for all, prejudices, HIV / AIDS prevention, etc.), participates in LGBT events and campaigns (IDAHOT, Prague Pride parade, the "Celebrating Love Of All Kinds" campaign). In particular, the jury appreciated that all employees were involved in the group and activities regardless of sexual orientation.
Special award: „LGBT Employer 2018 Leadership Commitment“
The jury appreciated Accenture for their top leadership actively engaging and supporting activities and projects conducive to an environment friendly to LGBT people. The topic is proactively supported by Accenture CEO Roberto Libonati and Telecommunications Director Alena Sochorová, who regularly participate in internal and external activities (for example, Pride Business Forum or Pride at Accenture). Most of Accenture's Czech leaders have joined the so-called LGBT Allies (supporters) and express their support for LGBT inclusion through the use of rainbow lanyards.

About the platform

Pride Business Forum is the only platform in the Czech Republic that creates space for discussion of LGBT equality in the workplace across corporations and companies. The platform forms close cooperation both with public and private sphere and provides managers and business professionals a unique opportunity to share experiences on issues of diversity in corporate environments. In addition to the annual Pride Business Forum conference, we organize smaller thematic workshops throughout the year.

Diversity in business

Diversity in business, which has been spreading across Europe, has begun to deliver benefits even in the Czech Republic through progressive companies actively engaging in diversity programs. Companies and corporations are discovering new ways to work best with their employees through balancing their work and private lives. Diverse work environments have been found to be more efficient and innovative than those that are not by allowing employers to integrate talents of all ages, gender, race, or nationality (and sexuality??). In addition, diversity also brings clear financial benefits- 83% of European companies acknowledge that diversity has a positive influence on their business and 79% of Europeans want to see their companies support diversity in their workplace.

Besides the general principle of diversity and related tools, companies focus also on its individual aspects. For instance, 52% of companies implement diversity programs with the aim of improving company culture and people management. 92% of British companies incorporating programs that integrate minorities state that their reputation has improved and that their customers perceive the brand in a better light. 63% of these British companies have also registered direct benefits in their organizational development (ie. in the winning of contracts).
​
​The approach to LGBT diversity is still an issue in the attitude of firms as part of the overall strategy for diversity. Most large corporations are already addressing their approach to diversity. However, in the Czech Republic, issues such as women in senior positions, the integration of people with disabilities, age diversity, etc., still predominate, and the issue of LGBT diversity in the workplace is still nascent in this country.
​
For more information please visit www.diverzita.cz.
Do you want to learn more? Do you have any questions regarding the Pride Business Forum platform?

E-mail us at info@pridebusinessforum.com