Rainbow-hued corporate logos, offers on Pride merchandise, blogs, and content on social media – all these and more herald the arrival of Pride Month. Simultaneously, there is an increase in the number of conversations around diversity within organisations. While it is no secret that in the past, members of the LGBTQIA+ community had to keep their true identities under wraps, times have now changed. Today, society has become more accepting towards the LGBTQIA+ community; however, we still have many miles to cross.
Within the workplace, there has been a sea of change. The introduction of inclusive policies encourages employees to bring their true selves to work. Inclusive policies not only make a workplace safer and more conducive but also encourage community members to embrace their identities. As a result, many LGBTQIA+ employees now feel comfortable enough to disclose their identity since the ambience works as a catalyst. Across the board, leaders and employees now see the real human being and understand their resilience.
Personally, being open about my identity has made me more confident in addressing issues faced by fellow community members within the organisation and outside of it. Through active engagement with Employee Business Resource Groups (EBRGs), I connected with members from diverse backgrounds, which helped me win allies. It is important to introduce my true self to everyone. As a representative of the LGBTQIA+ community, I find it important to have open discussions on topics that are typically considered taboo. It is only then that this change in perception occurs, and people see someone for who the real person is. At the end of the day, we are all humans with diverse perspectives, and there is a need for this to be acknowledged.
Why visibility is important in the workplace
For members of the LGBTQIA+ community, being themselves in the workplace provides them with confidence and joy. They find a place where they are not subject to judgement. As a result, they are more productive, engaged, and feel a sense of belonging.
More than 60% of our day is spent at the workplace or with colleagues. Building an inclusive space is important to help employees feel safe, which provides them the freedom to express themselves. This, in turn, helps increase overall organisational productivity.
Misconceptions and biases around members of the LGBTQIA+ community will be reduced through increased interactions and awareness. These learnings can be carried back to society, where allies can vouch for minorities.
As the saying goes, “seeing is believing.” Within this space, seeing LGBTQIA+ representations will encourage more employees to come forward and be a part of this ‘change management’. This will lead to collaborative efforts that make organisations more inclusive, diverse, and progressive.
At the same time, it is important to assess your workplace and ensure it nurtures an inclusive environment. Safety first, always.
Organisations must continue to provide support to foster a diverse work environment. Looking ahead, it would be encouraging to see more C-Suite leaders talk about LGBTQIA+ support and engage with related initiatives. It would further help to have regular and consistent conversations on the existing LGBTQIA+ policies and benefits to make them accessible to all. This includes training on the usage of pronouns, awareness of unconscious biases, and gender identities.
The new-age workplace is a dynamic space to be in where learning never ceases. Within this environment, we should continue to learn from each other and be empathetic to people, nature, and ourselves. All of this together will truly make our world a better place.