Google upholds LGBT rights in the workplace

Published July 10, 2012 7:03pm

UPDATED JULY 20 - Google has implemented an in-house policy that aims to uphold the rights of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual (LGBT) employees, an LGBT professionals network reported over the weekend.

A supposed global campaign, dubbed "Legalize Love," was said to have launched in Poland and Singapore last July 7, according to a report ondot429.com.

"We want our employees who are gay or lesbian or transgender to have the same experience outside the office as they do in the office. It is obviously a very ambitious piece of work," it quoted Google's Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe as saying at a Global LGBT Workplace Summit in London.

It said Google intends to expand the initiative to every country where it has an office.

Google will particularly focus on places with homophobic cultures and anti-gay laws, the report added. Singapore launch

The article also said that Palmer-Edgecumbe explained the decision to launch an initiative in Singapore.

"Singapore wants to be a global financial center and world leader and we can push them on the fact that being a global center and a world leader means you have to treat all people the same, irrespective of their sexual orientation," he was quoted as saying.

Under Google's strategy, partnerships will be developed between companies and organizations to support grassroots campaigns.

Palmer-Edgecumbe also supposedly said that the campaign will benefit Google's business, as Google operates in many countries and has a mobile workforce.

"We have had a number of instances where we have been trying to hire people into countries where there are these issues and have been unable to put the best person into a job in that country," he said.

The report quoted Harry Gaskell of professional services firm Ernst & Young as supporting the argument for putting together initiatives between governments, organizations, and companies.

Also supporting the initiative was Bob Amnnibale, a gay executive at Citi.

"The fact that Google is so virtual and its appeal is very wide and young demographically means it can help spread messaging very, very quickly," he said.

Clarification from Google

However, in a statement sent to GMA News Online, a Google spokesperson clarified that the move was not a global campaign, but simply an in-house initiative in support of LGBT rights in the workplace with no country-specific plans as yet. Nevertheless, Google underscored its commitment to the LGBT community.

"Our policies on non-discrimination are universal throughout Google. We are proud to be recognised as a leader in LGBT inclusion efforts, but there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality. Legalise Love is our call to decriminalise homosexuality and eliminate homophobia around the world," the statement said.

"At Google, we encourage people to bring their whole selves to work. In all of our 60 offices around the world, we are committed to cultivating a work environment where Googlers can be themselves and thrive," the statement added. — TJD, GMA News

Tags: google, gay, lesbian, transsexual, lgbt