Workplace Pride 2026 Global Benchmark Shows Leading Employers Continue Advancing LGBTQ+ Inclusion Despite DEI Pressures

As organisations face growing pressure over diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, the latest Workplace Pride Global Benchmark shows that employers investing in long-term LGBTQ+ inclusion continue to lead the way.

The Workplace Pride Foundation has published its 2026 Global Benchmark, revealing that the overall median score for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion fell by 5.7% compared with 2025. Despite the decline, organisations with sustained leadership commitment continued to make measurable progress, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Lenovo achieving Advocate status by scoring above 90%, Aegon Ltd, Ministerie van EZK en LVVN and Robeco earning Ambassador recognition with scores between 70% and 90%, and Eneco improving its score by more than 20% compared with last year.

The annual benchmark, recognised as one of the world’s leading assessments of LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion, arrives as organisations across Europe, North America and beyond reassess their DEI strategies in response to political, economic and regulatory pressures.

INCLUSION CONTINUES TO DELIVER RESULTS

Rather than scaling back inclusion efforts, many of this year’s highest-performing organisations embedded LGBTQ+ inclusion into everyday business operations, leadership decision-making and workplace culture. According to Workplace Pride, organisations achieving the strongest results did more than maintain existing initiatives – they found new ways to integrate inclusion into recruitment, employee engagement, employee benefits, leadership development and corporate governance.

“The 2026 Global Benchmark results are a reminder that leading with inclusion isn’t about the size of the budget or the ease of the moment,” stated David Pollard, Executive Director of Workplace Pride. “It’s about the choices organisations make when it matters most.”

CELEBRATING INCLUSION ADVOCATES AND AMBASSADORS

Advocate status – the Benchmark’s highest recognition – is awarded to organisations scoring above 90%. New Advocates for 2026 include:

• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Lenovo

Returning Advocates include:

• De Nederlandsche Bank
• ING
• McKinsey & Company
• PwC
• RELX
• Shell
• Sodexo
• Unilever

Organisations scoring between 70% and 90% and receiving Ambassador recognition are:

• Aegon Ltd
• Ministerie van EZK en LVVN
• Robeco

One of the year’s strongest performances came from Eneco, which improved its Benchmark score by more than 20% compared with 2025, demonstrating sustained progress in embedding LGBTQ+ inclusion across the business.

Top performing organisations by sector, are as listed below.

WHY WORKPLACE INCLUSION MATTERS

The findings reinforce previous research showing that many LGBTQ+ employees continue to experience discrimination at work. Past studies show that more than half a million LGBTQ+ workers in the UK reported abuse at work. Other research also found an alarming rise in workplace harassment, with more than half of LGBTQ+ employees reporting bullying or discrimination.

The Benchmark’s findings also reflect wider trends around declining corporate Pride participation despite consumers continuing to expect brands to support LGBTQ+ communities, as reported. Together, these findings demonstrate why benchmarking, leadership accountability and continuous improvement remain essential for employers committed to creating safer, more inclusive workplaces.

WHAT THE WORKPLACE PRIDE BENCHMARK MEASURES

Launched in 2014 with support from Leiden University and international partners, the Workplace Pride Global Benchmark evaluates organisations across eight key areas:

• Policy & Communication
• Employee Networks
• Workplace Awareness
• Support & Benefits
• Inclusion & Engagement
• Expertise & Monitoring
• Inclusive Sourcing
• Societal Impact

Today, Workplace Pride has more than 100 member organisations employing millions of people across nearly every country worldwide, making the Benchmark one of the most comprehensive international measures of LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. The latest Benchmark builds on other international recognition programmes celebrating employers committed to LGBTQ+ equality. This includes hundreds of companies being recognised on HCA’s list for excellence in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion (link internally to your Corporate Equality Index article).

Earlier this year, Fair Play Talks also highlighted progress during Lesbian Visibility Week, celebrating LGBTQIA+ women breaking barriers across business and society, as well as leaders advancing inclusion through the 2026 Trans in the City List, recognising change makers supporting trans and non-binary communities across the UK.

WHY INCLUSION MATTERS

Although the 2026 Global Benchmark recorded a 5.7% decline in median scores, the findings send an encouraging message for employers navigating an increasingly complex DEI landscape. The organisations achieving the strongest results demonstrate that meaningful inclusion is not defined by the size of a budget or external political conditions. Instead, progress is driven by leadership, accountability, evidence-based action and sustained commitment.

For employers competing to attract and retain talent, strengthen employee engagement and build resilient organisational cultures, LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion remains both a business imperative and a social responsibility. As organisations continue to navigate changing expectations around DEI, the Workplace Pride 2026 Global Benchmark suggests that those embedding inclusion into everyday business practice will be best placed to create workplaces where everyone can thrive.

TURNING INCLUSION INTO ACTION: GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS

The 2026 Workplace Pride Global Benchmark shows that the highest-performing organisations share several common characteristics. Rather than relying on one-off campaigns or symbolic gestures, they embed inclusion into everyday business practice.

Employers looking to strengthen LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion should consider:

• Demonstrating visible leadership throughout the year, not only during Pride Month.
• Reviewing workplace policies, employee benefits and family support to ensure they meet the needs of LGBTQ+ employees.
• Supporting employee resource groups (ERGs) and LGBTQ+ staff networks.
• Equipping managers with practical training on inclusive leadership, allyship and responding effectively to discrimination.
• Measuring progress through benchmarking, employee feedback and transparent reporting.
• Embedding inclusion into recruitment, procurement, customer engagement and leadership development.
• Working with community organisations, suppliers and partners to help advance LGBTQ+ equality beyond the workplace.

The Benchmark demonstrates that sustainable progress is achieved through long-term leadership commitment, continuous learning and measurable accountability. Click here for more information.

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