WeWork India Extends Medical Benefits To Partners Of LGBTQ Employees

WeWork, co-working and space-as-a-service platform, has taken a positive step in India towards embracing its LGBTQ staff by extending the company’s medical insurance benefits to same sex domestic partners. This step is a commitment by WeWork to acknowledge and celebrate diversity and inclusion amongst its employees through their people practices.

Commenting on the introduction, Priti Shetty, Head of People, WeWork India, says “WeWork as a brand believes in leveraging the diversity of our people and is taking steps to celebrate the spirit of inclusion. Today we announce our insurance coverage policy to be LGBTQ friendly and all WeWork India employees, irrespective of gender or sexual orientation, will now be able to add partners as dependents and gain the same benefits. I would like to thank our partners Futurerisk and The Oriental Insurance Company  who support us in providing health insurance benefits to our people.”

WeWork has 500+ employees in India and is the first collaborative workspace provider in the country to offer health insurance cover to partners of all LGBTQ employees. 

“I believe that we become the best versions of ourselves when we can bring our whole and authentic selves to work. This helps us build deeper and meaningful connections with each other and our members. We have to respect each individual's diverse needs to foster a truly inclusive culture. The insurance coverage for our LGBTQ colleagues is a step in that direction", adds Priti. 

Bengaluru-based Embassy Group, a major player in Indian commercial real estate sector, had partnered US-based WeWork in 2016 to enter into co-working business for the Indian market. As of February 2020, WeWork India has 34 locations across six cities and more than 40,000 memberships, including enterprises.