Open for Business: Strengthening the Economic Case for LGBTI Inclusion
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Open For Business – Open For Strengthening the economic case Strengthening Strengthening the economic case By Jon Miller and Lucy Parker About this report The report is published by Open For Business, a coalition of global companies organized as a charity with the objective of promoting LGBT+ inclusion. What is the report’s purpose? Who is it for? This report aims to present a comprehensive This report is intended to set out the evidence that Contents evidence base for global LGBT+ inclusion, in will empower those making the case against LGBT+ order to demonstrate that successful businesses discrimination, wherever it exists in the world. Executive Summary 02 thrive in diverse, inclusive societies and the Part 1: The Global Situation 06 spread of anti-LGBT+ policies runs counter to the interests of business and economic development. Who are the authors? Business action on LGBT+ inclusion 08 This is the second report from Open For Business: Companies supporting Open For Business Global challengers 10 it updates and extends the evidence base, and contributed their global perspectives, experience Global backlash against LGBT+ has a special focus on the economic case for and expertise on the business case for LGBT+ inclusion 11 LGBT+ inclusion in cities. inclusion, and they actively participated in The closing of civil society space 13 shaping the argument throughout the A path towards LGBT+ inclusion 14 development of this report. The Open For Part 2: Cities 20 What is its scope? Business team undertook the final analysis and This report sets out the case for inclusion and writing of the report, led by Jon Miller and Lucy Why cities matter 22 diversity, with a specific focus on LGBT+. It brings Parker of the Brunswick Group. Ann-Kathrin Richter The competitiveness of cities 24 together a broad base of research undertaken led the research on the core evidence base; LGBT+ inclusion in cities 26 from different perspectives and covering different Ruairidh Macintosh led the research on the cities (i) Innovation geographies and sectors, and identifies themes section of the report; Drew Keller is the Open For 29 that are globally relevant. Business Program Director. Additional research on (ii) Talent and skills 32 Global Challengers was undertaken by Boston (iii) Quality of Living 33 Consulting Group. Open For Business City Ratings 36 City case studies 38 Part 3: The evidence base 50 The Open For Business Research Advisory Board Strengthening the evidence base 52 The work of Open For Business is supported by a Research Advisory Board, which provides A. Economic performance 54 ongoing guidance and feedback, and helps to ensure the economic case for LGBT+ inclusion B. Company performance 66 is comprehensive and up to date. C. Individual performance 75 M.V. Lee Badgett Suen Yiu Tung Part 4: Coalition action 84 Professor of Economics, University of Founding Director of Sexualities Research Open For Business Programs 86 Massachusetts Amherst Program, Chinese University of Hong Kong The voice of global business leaders 88 Williams Distinguished Scholar at the Assistant Professor of Gender Studies; Author Coalition Supporters’ Williams Institute; Former Director of the of studies on LGBT+ issues in Asia, including Codes of Conduct 89 Center for Public Policy and Administration; business and workplace contexts. Acknowledgements 92 Author of various key studies on the Matteo Winkler economic costs of homophobia. Appendix 93 Assistant Professor of Law, HEC Paris Starting a conversation Felicity Daly DrPH Developed diversity and inclusion strategy on LGBT+ inclusion 96 Global Research Program Coordinator, course for the HEC MBA program; Member OutRight Action International of non-profit association Avvocatura per i Honorary Research Fellow, Australian Diritti LGBTI – Rete Lenford, which led Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society at important antidiscrimination lawsuits before LaTrobe University, Australia. Italian courts. This publication has been made possible by the following sponsors: Open For Business 01 About Open For Business Open For Business is a response to the growing Our Global Influencer Program harnesses the Open For Business is a coalition backlash against LGBT+ inclusion in many parts voice of high profile global business leaders, of the world. Our coalition partners share building a consensus in the international business of global companies making a deep-rooted commitment to diversity community around the economic case for LGBT+ the case that inclusive, diverse and inclusion in their own workplaces, and they inclusion, and raising awareness through top tier are concerned about the spread of anti-LGBT+ global press, social media and events. societies are better for policies in many countries in which they operate. Our task is to present the business rationale business and better for The economic and business case for LGBT+ for global LGBT+ inclusion. The moral case economic growth. The purpose inclusion is central to the mission of Open For has already been made, and now the economic Business. In 2015 the coalition published case continues to grow stronger: successful, of the coalition is to advance a report containing the most comprehensive enterprising businesses thrive in diverse, inclusive LGBT+ inclusion globally, by evidence base linking LGBT+ inclusion to better societies and the spread of anti-LGBT+ policies economic and business performance. This report runs counter to the interests of business and promoting a positive economic was pivotal to reframing LGBT+ rights as an economic development. and business case for equality economic issue, as well as a human rights issue. of opportunity for everyone, This is the second report of the Open For Business all across the world. coalition, and further strengthens the economic case. It is intended to fuel our Open For Business programs, which exist on two levels: Our Local Influencer Program works with senior business leaders in countries with anti-LGBT+ sentiments, creating advocates for positive change by giving them the evidence and the impetus to use their influence. Already, Open For Business has initiated C-Suite networks in nine countries, working closely with local LGBT+ groups. 02 Open For Business Open For Business 03 Executive summary 04 Open For Business Executive summary The first Open For Business report synthesized The business and economic case for LGBT+ Open, inclusive and diverse a broad and fragmented evidence base into inclusion exists on three levels – economic a clear and comprehensive economic case. performance, business performance and societies are better for It pulled upon the many strands of work that individual performance – and the evidence business and better for have studied the subject from different angles, base is presented in the 27 Propositions, including economic growth and development, outlined opposite. economic growth. This report business performance and productivity, and This report also focuses on a compelling human resources and talent management. It presents the evidence base dimension of the economic case: cities. Cities helped to reframe the global debate on LGBT+ have become a top priority for policymakers and that supports this: it inclusion: as well as a moral imperative, it politicians around the world because of their presented a compelling economic case. demonstrates that businesses potential to drive economic growth. This report thrive in tolerant societies and In the two years since the first report was presents the evidence that open and diverse published, we have seen how the economic case cities are more competitive. LGBT+ inclusion sends that the spread of anti-LGBT+ for LGBT+ inclusion has the power to catalyze a a clear signal that a city has a tolerant, dynamic policies runs counter to the consensus in the global business community, as cultural life, and that it is a globally integrated well as fueling conversations on-the-ground in place to do business. interests of business and countries with anti-LGBT+ policies. This second economic development. report aims to build on this momentum. It updates and strengthens the economic case, and it represents the most comprehensive evidence base published to date on LGBT+ inclusion. Report structure Part 1: The Global Situation. The report Part 3: The Evidence Base. This is the most begins by describing the backlash against LGBT+ comprehensive presentation of evidence in inclusion that is taking place in many parts of the support of global LGBT+ inclusion, updated world, and shows how this is a concern for many based on a review of 166 new pieces of in the global business community. Companies evidence – research papers, reports, articles are working to curb discrimination and promote and presentations. The evidence is presented diversity in their workplaces, and this becomes as 27 propositions on three levels – economic difficult in countries that are hostile to LGBT+ performance, business performance and people. In the last couple of years, the actions individual performance. It includes compelling of many leading businesses show their strong new data connecting LGBT+ inclusion to greater support for LGBT+ inclusion, all over the world. national competitiveness and stronger company financial results. Part 2: Cities. This presents the economic case for LGBT+ inclusion in cities. Cities that are LGBT+ Part 4: Coalition Action. Together with coalition inclusive are better placed to develop their global partners, Open For Business has been working competitiveness: evidence