LGBT community offers access to wider talent pool, says HSBC chief
Financial sector voices support for the LGBT community, noting numerous benefits such as access to wider talent pool and more customers
Recognising and respecting the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is good for business, said speakers at the recent "Out on the Street" summit in Hong Kong, hosted by HSBC.
"Embracing diversity is simply good for business. The financial sector can play a leadership role in diversity," said HSBC Holdings group chief executive Stuart Gulliver. "Why limit access to talent because of prejudice? It makes no sense. I want my colleagues to be themselves at work."
Gulliver warned against the trap of managers tending to hire people like themselves. He pointed out HSBC UK chief executive Antonio Simoes is gay and manages 50,000 people.
"When Antonio was talking to people, they assume his partner is female. I know his boyfriend," Gulliver remarked.
HSBC supports gay colleagues in territories where same-sex relationships are illegal or culturally unacceptable, as long as the bank does not break any local laws in providing such support, Gulliver said. "If a colleague does not want to transfer to a certain country, we must not do so, but it should not damage his career for being seen to be difficult."
Previously, HSBC's job application forms asked candidates whether they were male or female, but recently, the bank's job application forms have broadened gender to four categories; male, female, androgynous or prefer not to answer.