Eversheds Sutherland is threatening to force someone to become an LGBT representative because no-one has volunteered for the role.

An email leaked to RollOnFriday reveals that the firm has struggled to find anyone willing to become the Cambridge office's representative for its LGBT employee network. The email's author, who RollOnFriday will call 'Bob', has given staff seven days to come out. Otherwise, writes Bob, "I nominate someone!"

 
Some are born diverse, some achieve diversity, and someone at Eversheds is going to have diversity thrust upon them.
 

If no-one responds and Bob makes good on his promise to select an LGBT rep himself, he may face awkward questions around the reasons for his choice. RollOnFriday would recommend putting everyone's name in a hat. Although of course that does risk an evangelical getting the job, and telling everyone at Cambridge Pride that they can pray the gay away. It's a small price to pay to keep the rainbow flag flying in the fens.

  "What's the problem? Linda's a great choice, she told me she had extensive experience of LGBT events."

A spokesman for the firm said, "Eversheds Sutherland’s LGBT network will be relaunched in October. We will be running a series of all-inclusive events in each of our UK offices, hence the request for support and volunteers – whether LGBT or non-LGBT (often referred to as ‘Straight Allies’). Like all our offices, our Cambridge Office has a number of individuals at all levels who are heavily committed to LGBT and diversity*. The email was sent as a gentle reminder** for a volunteer to support this important initiative for both the Cambridge office and the firm".

*Obviously not that committed.
**/threat.
Tip Off ROF

Comments

Anonymous 15 September 17 10:11

Response of most LGBT folk: "Srsly, I've got work to do. It's very nice of you breeders to set this kind of thing up, but I'm fine,really. Please let me get back to work. Please."

Anonymous 15 September 17 19:33

Be diverse on your own time! Why cant you just go to work .. and work ? Clients dont pick firms based on this... GET BACK TO WORK !

Anonymous 18 September 17 12:12

anonymous at @18:33 - actually, an increasing number of clients do pick firms based on (among other things) diversity credentials, partly because these days people care about their supply chain more (so that they can't be accused of outsourcing all of their work to suppliers who don't share their values or protect their staff in the same way).

But "Be diverse on your own time" did make me chuckle.