1. Addressing IBM’s Mobile Workforce in Today’s Diverse Global Marketplace
Tony Tenicela
Global Leader
Workforce Diversity and LGBT Markets

2. 50% of global workforce is considered Mobile
Revenue (2014)
$ 92.8B
2,800 locations, 12 research laboratories worldwide, +800,000 traditional endpoints
385,000 Employees
Operations in over 170 countries
50% of global workforce is considered Mobile
65% of workforce is a member of a globally integrated team
130,000 Contractors
100,000+ Business Partners 2

3. IBM’s Commitment to Diversity
The employees of IBM represent a talented and diverse workforce. Achieving the full potential of this diversity is a business priority that is fundamental to our competitive success. A key element in our workforce diversity programs is IBM's long-standing commitment to equal opportunity. Business activities such as hiring, promotion, and compensation of employees, are conducted without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or age. These business activities and the design and administration of IBM benefit plans comply with all applicable laws, including those dealing with equal opportunity. For qualified people with disabilities, IBM makes workplace accommodations that comply with applicable laws, and which IBM determines are reasonable and needed for effective job performance. In respecting and valuing the diversity among our employees, and all those with whom we do business, managers are expected to ensure a working environment that is free of all forms of harassment. This policy is based on sound business judgment and anchored in our IBM Values. Every manager in IBM is expected to abide by our policy, and all applicable laws on this subject, and to uphold IBM’s commitment to workforce diversity.
Global workforce diversity is a cornerstone of IBM’s strategy to differentiate ourselves as one of the world’s great companies. We recognize and value a culture of diversity and inclusiveness as an essential part of how we attract and retain the best talent.
IBM’s commitment to diversity has always been at the core of our business and IBM has a long history when it comes to Diversity & Inclusion.
In 1953, then IBM CEO Tom Watson Jr. signed the first corporate equal opportunity letter as you have just seen in the video.
On the screen you see the current global policy statement on diversity, which is broad and which explicitly includes not only sexual orientation but also gender identity and expression.
To ensure that talented individuals can contribute at the highest possible level, IBM does not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment in the workplace.
Every manager in IBM is expected to abide by our policy and all applicable laws to uphold IBM’s commitment to workforce diversity.
Examples:
Safety: We will never ask employees to self-identify in a country where there is a death penalty on homosexuality as we never want to be in the position where we would have to relay this information to local authorities.
Legislation: Mostly refers to a specific sexual act between 2 men, and therefore is rarely relevant in the workplace.
Lead the way: We roll out our programs wherever we can, often despite local legislation. We have BRGs in countries where homosexuality is illegal, like Singapore and India. We provide domestic partner benefits for the sole purpose of giving benefits to people who cannot legally get married, so there where same-sex marriage is illegal.
Map shows both persecution (in orange/brown) and recognition (in blue) of homosexuality around the world.
Same sex marriage is possible in 17 countries around the globe and in 20 states and 1 district in the US.
Death penaly is still around in 8 countries and we do have IBM offices in some of these countries.
Impact on our ability to roll out LGBT programs, impact on global mobility/relocation/international assignments/CSC-ESC assignments
Same-sex marriage is legally recognized nationwide in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark,[nb 1] France, Iceland, the Netherlands,[nb 2] New Zealand,[nb 3] Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay and the United Kingdom.[nb 4] The law in Luxembourg is expected to come into force on 1 January In the United States, same-sex marriages are recognized on the federal level, though same-sex couples can only marry in nineteen of the fifty states and Washington D.C. In Mexico, same-sex marriages are only performed regularly in Mexico City and Quintana Roo, but these marriages are recognized by all Mexican states and by the Mexican federal government.[72] Israel do not recognize same-sex marriages performed on their territory, but recognize same-sex marriages performed in foreign jurisdictions.
United States:
Same-sex couples can legally marry in 37 states
United States history:
MA (2004), CT (2008), IA (2009), VT (2009), NH (2009), Washington DC (2010), NY (2011), WA (2012), ME (2012), MD (2013), RI (2013), DE (2013), MN (2013), CA (2013). NJ (2013), HI (2013), IL (2013), NM (2013), OR (2014), PA (2014)
Virginia M. Rometty President and Chief Executive Officer

4. A Heritage of LGBT Inclusion at IBM
1953 President TJ Watson issues IBM’s first equal opportunity policy letter
1984 Sexual orientation added to IBM’s global EO policy
1995 Launch of IBM’s Lesbian and Gay Task Force
1997 Same-sex domestic partner benefits for US employees
1997 Eight LGBT Diversity Network Groups announced
1999 IBM’s LGBT Supplier Diversity program launched
2001 IBM’s LGBT / Diversity Business Development Program launched
2002 Gender identity and expression added to IBM’s global EO policy
2006 Introduction of Voluntary Self-Identification in our HR systems
2011 IBM’s 1sr LGBT Annual Report published and distributed
2013 LGBT status used in Chairman’s Review for the 1st time
2014 Launch of the Straight Ally certification training module

5. LGBT Rights around the World
Impact of LGBT legislation on IBM’s policies/programs
Safety of our employees always comes first.
Our non-discrimination policy, which explicitly includes that we do not discriminate based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression is truly global. It’s wording cannot be changed, not even in the death penalty countries.
Based on our observation and experience negative LGBT legislation rarely applies to the workplace and is not always enforced.
Our global programs are deployed wherever we can based on the legal situation, but also the social, cultural and religious environment locally.
IBM leads the way with our LGBT policies and programs
Examples:
Safety: We will never ask employees to self-identify in a country where there is a death penalty on homosexuality as we never want to be in the position where we would have to relay this information to local authorities.
Legislation: Mostly refers to a specific sexual act between 2 men, and therefore is rarely relevant in the workplace.
Lead the way: We roll out our programs wherever we can, often despite local legislation. We have BRGs in countries where homosexuality is illegal, like Singapore and India. We provide domestic partner benefits for the sole purpose of giving benefits to people who cannot legally get married, so there where same-sex marriage is illegal.
Map shows both persecution (in orange/brown) and recognition (in blue) of homosexuality around the world.
Same sex marriage is possible in 17 countries around the globe and in 20 states and 1 district in the US.
Death penaly is still around in 8 countries and we do have IBM offices in some of these countries.
Impact on our ability to roll out LGBT programs, impact on global mobility/relocation/international assignments/CSC-ESC assignments
Same-sex marriage is legally recognized nationwide in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark,[nb 1] France, Iceland, the Netherlands,[nb 2] New Zealand,[nb 3] Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay and the United Kingdom.[nb 4] The law in Luxembourg is expected to come into force on 1 January In the United States, same-sex marriages are recognized on the federal level, though same-sex couples can only marry in nineteen of the fifty states and Washington D.C. In Mexico, same-sex marriages are only performed regularly in Mexico City and Quintana Roo, but these marriages are recognized by all Mexican states and by the Mexican federal government.[72] Israel do not recognize same-sex marriages performed on their territory, but recognize same-sex marriages performed in foreign jurisdictions.
United States:
Same-sex couples can legally marry in 37 states
United States history:
MA (2004), CT (2008), IA (2009), VT (2009), NH (2009), Washington DC (2010), NY (2011), WA (2012), ME (2012), MD (2013), RI (2013), DE (2013), MN (2013), CA (2013). NJ (2013), HI (2013), IL (2013), NM (2013), OR (2014), PA (2014)
Same-sex Marriage:
The Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003), Canada (2005), Spain (2005), South Africa (2006), Norway (2009), Sweden (2009), Argentina (2010), Iceland (2010), Portugal (2010), Denmark (2012), Uruguay (2013), Brazil (2013), France (2013), New Zealand (2013), UK (2014), Luxembourg (2015), Slovenia (2015) and Finland (voted, effective 2017), and the United States (2015).
Mexico City and Quintana Roo
Death Penalty:
Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Mauritania, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Somalia
Updated September 10, 2015
Source: 5

6. IBM’s Global Mobility Program
PROGRAM TYPES
Cross-Border Travel
International Assignment
Permanent Relocation
Career Development Programs
Smarter Cities Challenge
Corporate Service Corps
Executive Service Corps
INFORMATION SOURCES
In person country briefings
Local LGBT networks
Other local employees/assignees
Traveler advisory for all business trips (via )
TMA Country Navigator
Immigration Legislation - Creative solutions
Always based on our Global Equal Opportunity policy
Always based on employee’s willingness to go somewhere or not
LGBT families are treated exactly the same as traditional families
Spouse/partner
Children
Benefits
Career opportunities
Immigration legislation
Cross-border travel is an essential part of today’s global business environment. The mission of Global Mobility is to facilitate the successful mobility deployment of IBM talent around the world and to ensure that we have the right people in the right place at the right time. Whether an employee is  going on a two-week cross-border trip, a two-year international assignment, or is relocating to another country, Global Mobility's programs and tools will help ensure the  travel is in compliance with immigration and tax requirements.
Cross-Border Travel (Immigration & Taxes): Cross-Border Travel is short-term travel to another country for business purposes.
International Assignment: International Assignment (IA) is long-term, temporary travel (typically more than two months) to another country for business or personal reasons.
Permanent Relocation: Relocation is an employee move (one-way travel) to another country for business or personal reasons.
Career opportunities:
- No negative impact on career when rejecting
- Alternative experiences needed to advance offered