Strong support for LGBTQ inclusion secures Silver for Alcoa

Alcoa has secured Silver Tier Employer status in the 2020 Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) LGBTQ Inclusion Awards, joining some of Australia’s most progressive companies including Qantas, Westpac and KPMG.

Scoring a ‘top three’ position for the mining and resources sector, Alcoa was one of 154 Australian organisations to participate in the 2020 AWEI. The rigorous and evidence-based benchmarking tool is used annually to assess workplaces in the progress and impact of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) inclusion initiatives.

Alcoa Australia President Michael Gollschewski said visible leadership and open conversations about LGBTQ inclusion and equality in the workplace have helped the company strengthen its culture of inclusiveness.

“Our aim is for every Alcoa employee to bring their ‘whole selves’ to work and to feel included and valued for who they are and for the diversity of ideas and experiences they bring,” Mr Gollschewski said.

“Since 2013, our ally network for LGBTQ employees, EAGLE, which stands for Employees at Alcoa for Gay, Lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex Equality, has grown from 30 members to more than 500 … all working to
champion inclusion across the business.”

Under strong leadership from Alcoa’s Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Manager, Mark Hodgson, the network actively promotes a culture of inclusion and rallies support for LGBTQ colleagues.

Some tangible efforts from the EAGLE network over the past year include organising events to mark days of significance such as IDAHOBIT and Wear It Purple, attending external LGBTQ forums to share learnings and gather ideas, participating in the annual Perth Pride Parade and South West Pridefest and installing gender-inclusive bathrooms at three Western Australian sites.

For the past six years, Alcoa has made an AWEI submission to benchmark against organisations committed to LGBTQ workplace inclusion. This is the second year Alcoa has been a Silver Tier Employer.

Workplaces are judged on a range of criteria including inclusive policies and practices, executive engagement, inclusive facilities and services, employee networks and external visibility.

ENDS

Media contact:
Jane McGuire, Senior Communications Adviser, 0410 694 676, jane.mcguire@alcoa.com