This year, we achieved a score of 71.5%, up from 66% last year. In 2014, the first year we participated, we achieved a score of 25%.
Our improved score can be attributed to a number of initiatives we introduced last year. We were a co-founder of LDIA, the Belgian Legal Diversity & Inclusion Alliance; we launched a gender-neutral drafting course for our lawyers, introduced a gender-neutral dress code at our New York office, and celebrated our LGBTI network's fifth anniversary with a firmwide selfie contest.
On this year's global benchmark, we scored higher than average in the areas of Employee Net-works, Workplace Awareness, Inclusion & Engagement, Expertise and Monitoring, and Business & Supplier Engagement.
NautaDutilh started taking part in the Workplace Pride Global Benchmark survey in 2014. Since then, the firm has made significant efforts to improve LGBTI inclusion, such as signing the Declaration of Amsterdam in 2017, starting the internal programme "Engaging Allies through Sport", which sponsors LGBTI sporting events, and co-founding the Forward Foundation.
Managing partner Petra Zijp, recipient of 2019's Most Effective Ally Award, says: "At NautaDutilh we truly value inclusiveness and always strive to perform better in this field. Our improved score is above all an encouragement for us all to continue working to raise the bar for LGBTI inclusiveness in the legal profession."
About Workplace Pride
Workplace Pride is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTI people in workplaces around the world. The Workplace Pride Global Benchmark recognises people and/or organisations that have demonstrated leadership by visibly contributing to LGBTI workplace inclusion.