Tata Steel has been awarded the Gold Employer status by the India Workplace Equality Index (IWEI) 2024 for the fourth consecutive year, highlighting its continued dedication to fostering LGBT+ inclusion. The recognition applauds Tata Steel’s efforts in integrating diversity and inclusion across its policies, hiring practices, and external communications.
The company has undertaken a wide range of initiatives to create an inclusive workplace, including progressive HR policies that extend equal benefits to LGBT+ partners. These benefits go beyond medical coverage to include gender-neutral parental leave, gender transition support, and even honeymoon packages.
Tata Steel also supports employee resource groups (ERGs) like WINGS, launched in 2018, which provides a network for LGBT+ employees. In addition, its outreach programs and community partnerships promote awareness, acceptance, and allyship, further embedding inclusion into the company culture.
“We are deeply honoured to receive the Gold Employer recognition for the fourth year in a row,” said Atrayee Sanyal, Vice President of Human Resource Management at Tata Steel. “This achievement underscores our ongoing commitment to building a workplace that values diversity, fosters innovation, and allows every individual to thrive. Our policies, sensitisation initiatives, and engagement mechanisms ensure that we celebrate individuality while driving business success.”
Tata Steel’s journey toward inclusivity began in 2015 with the launch of its diversity group, MOSAIC. This program focuses on five key areas: sensitisation, infrastructure, recruitment, retention and development, and celebrations. In 2019, the company expanded its Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) policy to allow LGBT+ employees to declare their partners and access benefits such as health coverage, adoption leave, financial support for gender reassignment surgery, and child care leave.
Employees and their partners are also eligible for additional perks, including relocation assistance, inclusion in official and corporate events, and travel allowances under the Tata Executive Holiday Plan. The India Workplace Equality Index is a benchmarking tool that evaluates progress in LGBT+ workplace inclusion across nine key areas, including policies, leadership, and community engagement. In its fifth annual edition, the IWEI saw participation from 150 organizations, solidifying Tata Steel’s position as a leader in workplace equality and inclusion.
Tata Steel Group is a global steel powerhouse with an annual crude steel capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum. It is one of the most geographically diversified steel producers in the world, with operations and a commercial presence spanning five continents. In FY24, the group achieved a consolidated turnover of approximately USD 27.7 billion and boasts an employee base of over 78,000. Recognised as a Great Place to Work-Certified™ organisation, Tata Steel is committed to excellence in its workforce practices and sustainability initiatives, including its ambitious goal of achieving Net Zero by 2045.
Tata Steel has been a pioneer in leveraging digital technologies to redefine steelmaking. It has received the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition for its Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar, and IJmuiden plants, along with the ‘Digital Enterprise of India – Steel’ Award 2024 from Economic Times CIO. The company has also been recognised for its diversity and inclusion efforts, earning the Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse accolade in 2023. Tata Steel is a leader in sustainable practices, being part of the DJSI Emerging Markets Index since 2012 and ranking consistently among the top 10 steel companies in the DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment since 2016. Notably, more than 90% of its steel production in India now comes from ResponsibleSteel™ certified sites.
Over the years, Tata Steel has received numerous accolades, reflecting its commitment to excellence across various domains. Its Jamshedpur plant was the first in India to receive ResponsibleSteel™ certification, followed by its Kalinganagar and Meramandali plants. Among its many honours are the Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best-performing integrated steel plant, the Steel Sustainability Champion recognition from worldsteel for seven consecutive years, and the 2023 Climate Change Leadership Award by CDP. Other notable awards include the Global ERM Award of Distinction at the RIMS ERM Conference 2023, the ‘Masters of Risk’ recognition for the eighth consecutive year, and the ICSI Business Responsibility and Sustainability Award 2023 for its pioneering Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report.
