Lehman Brothers wins special award for disability excellence for the second year running
2nd May 2007
On behalf of Employer's Forum on Disability (EFD) Susan Scott-Parker last night presented Lehman Brothers, the global investment bank, with the Great Place to Work® Institute UK Disability Excellence Award for the second consecutive year.
The award comes as part of the Best Workplaces to Work 2007 ceremony that took place last night at the Greenwich Maritime Museum. Lehman Brothers were also listed in the Top 50 Best Workplaces in the UK for the third year in a row. The results of the 2007 Best Workplaces Survey will be published in the Financial Times today.
Lehman Brothers has been a member of EFD since 2002, becoming a Gold member and therefore demonstrating commitment to disability as a business priority in 2007. The Disability Excellence Award, supported by EFD recognised the firm's achievement in promoting positive attitudes to disability in the workplace.
Lehman Brothers' proactive approach to disability more than exceeds the award's requirements regarding access to information, access to the premises, customer service and employing disabled individuals. Lehman Brothers innovative practices led by EFD have included:
- training sessions to educate staff around disability etiquette
- hosting industry awareness-raising sessions
- placements with disability organisations
- disability site on intranet
Since 2004, Lehman Brothers' Disability Working Forum has ensured support for employees with a disability and it encourages high calibre disabled candidates to apply to Lehman Brothers. Most importantly, the firm has recognised that disability confidence is a core business value and has communicated the importance of this both externally and internally.
Lehman Brothers is taking part in the EFD Standard benchmarking exercise during 2007.
Susan Scott-Parker, chief executive of the EFD, commented: "Lehman Brothers, leading members of our Gold Group, has shown extraordinary leadership and creativity in its approach to realising the potential of disabled people to contribute to business success. I am particularly impressed by how the company has transformed the debate by engaging directly with disabled opinion formers and entrepreneurs. We look forward to partnering with Lehman Brothers as they continue to invest in becoming truly disability confident."
Ends
Notes to editors
Lehman Brothers
Lehman Brothers (ticker symbol: LEH), an innovator in global finance, serves the financial needs of corporations, governments and municipalities, institutional clients, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Founded in 1850, Lehman Brothers maintains leadership positions in equity and fixed income sales, trading and research, investment banking, private investment management, asset management and private equity. Headquartered in New York, with regional headquarters in London and Tokyo, Lehman Brothers operates in a network of offices around the world. Lehman Brothers is an equal opportunity employer. The firm and its affiliates do not discriminate in employment because of race, religion or belief, gender, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. For further information about Lehman Brothers, visit the Firm's website at http://www.lehman.com/.
Great Places to Work
The Great Place to Work Institute is a global research consultancy with a presence in 30 countries worldwide. Since it's foundation in 1991, the institute has helped thousands of organisations to achieve excellence in people management through national and international Best Workplaces programmes. The Institute's annual survey selects the best companies in the country based on their employees' perception of their organisation. Taking part along with over 3,400 leading organisations worldwide sends a clear message to your employees that you aim to be one of the best. To learn more about the institute visit http://www.greatplacetowork.co.uk/.
Media enquiries, please contact:
Liz Nightingale, Communications Manager
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: liz.nightingale@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020
About Employers' Forum on Disability
Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 400 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.