Reflections for Pride Month 2024
41% of LGBTQ+ workers have faced discrimination or prejudice at work, while one third believe that their sexuality or gender identity has negatively affected their career, pay packet or progression. So, we must remember that pride is a protest.
Trust is the foundation, the ‘glue’ if you like, of any high performing team and it’s what allows us to communicate openly, collaborate effectively, and innovate boldly. Throughout Pride, we have the chance to reflect on how trust and inclusion are intertwined, especially for our LGBTQ+ team members and the importance of it when building an inclusive workplace. Without it, communication breaks down, and collaboration becomes a challenge and often, members of the community feel isolated from one another. How do we build trust?
?Celebrate Diversity
Pride Month is the perfect time to highlight the diverse backgrounds and experiences within your team. Take inspiration from figures like Munroe Bergdorf, whose stories can inspire and educate.
Inclusive Policies
48% of workers believe that the responsibility of fostering an inclusive work environment lies with their employer so ensure that policies protect against discrimination and promote equality, but also that they are not just on paper but are actively practiced.
?Inclusive Leadership
Leaders should actively seek out diverse perspectives and ensure that all team members feel heard. Listening to representatives from groups like The Global Butterflies Fund and Stonewall will provide insights into the challenges faced by the community and how you can address them.
Support Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
ERGs can provide a safe space for underrepresented groups to connect and support each other. They also offer valuable feedback to your business on how to improve inclusivity.
?Pride Month and Beyond
Scroll through LinkedIn during Pride Month, and you’ll likely see posts from LGBTQ+ people discussing how thankful they are that their company has made them feel comfortable bringing their true selves to work. These stories are inspiring and heartwarming, but they don’t relate a universal experience. While it’s great that many feel supported, we still need to recognise that not all LGBTQ+ employees share this experience. Some still face significant challenges and discrimination.
?Pronouns and Identity: Small Actions, Big Impact
Some people argue that sexuality should be kept out of the workplace and that gender identity “isn’t that serious.” But the reality is that most people signal them on a daily basis without thinking twice about it — whether it’s the clothes they wear, a casual reference to their partner when discussing weekend plans, or family photos displayed on their desktop. Gender and sexuality are integral parts of who we are and feeling pressured to hide those parts of yourself can take an immense psychological toll.
?Keep the Momentum Going
Building trust and fostering inclusion is an ongoing process.
Visibility and Representation
Use Pride Month to highlight the contributions of LGBTQ+ employees, but don't stop there. Make this a year-round effort.
Education and Awareness
Continue to educate your team about the history and significance of Pride and other important milestones in the LGBTQ+ community. This will help build a more empathetic and understanding team.?
Support and Allyship
Being a good ally means advocating for and standing by your coworkers. Allyship is a verb after all. If you are in privileged position of line management, make sure you’re checking in on those who are trans and non-binary. At the PinkNews Trans+ Summit held in May, Claire Harvey, head of inclusion, wellbeing and engagement at TP ICAP highlighted that it is “both a business and moral case to have managers that are educated and equipped to create the right environment.” So, I ask you to ask yourself, what are you doing as a business or manager that supports inclusion this pride?
Moving Forward
As we celebrate Pride Month 2024, let's commit to building trust and fostering inclusion in our workplaces. It’s about creating environments where everyone, regardless of their identity, can be their true selves and thrive. By integrating these values into our daily practices, we can build stronger, more inclusive teams that reflect the diversity and richness of our world.
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If you need support implementing such practices, please reach out to the JourneyHR team. As experts in creating great places to work, we will collaborate with you and your business to honestly evaluate your position.