I followed Dr. V on LinkedIn and other platforms before working for her. Her voice and expertise in the space of inclusion and diversity more broadly allowed me to be my authentic self during the recruitment, hiring and onboarding process. I was able to come into my role at Mattingly Solutions knowing I was SAFE to be out. I am happy to be out so that I don’t have to spend the energy hiding anything and hopefully bring representation to this organization.
With an increasing number of individuals identifying as LGBTQ+, we need to make sure that we are creating welcoming spaces that will allow all humans to feel accepted.
THE GOOD: The US Supreme Court (Bostock v. Clayton County, 2020) states that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited under employment law known as Title VII.
THE BAD: Millions of other Americans have to consider when applying for jobs, taking a new role, or discussing their personal lives with their colleagues. Research suggest ~46% of LQBTQ+ Americans are fearful of coming out at work (HBhttps://hbr.org/2018/10/7-myths-about-coming-out-at-workR, 2018). LGBTQ+ employees may consider a handful of factors when deciding to come out at work:
Does my workplace have a reputation for diversity, equity and inclusion?
Are there members of the organization who are openly LGBTQ+?
Will I risk things that are valuable to me if I come out here? (social status, reputation, relationships, etc.)
THE BETTER: As organizations continue to provide support and resources for LGBQT+ employees, there is a chance to improve the employee experience by allowing employees to bring their ‘whole selves’ to work. Employees who can be their authentic selves often experience higher job satisfaction (Griffith & Hebl, 2002), gain emotional support from coworkers (Trau, 2014), and increased job engagement (Anaza et al., 2014).
ALLY UP. Allyship is a great skillset to support your LGBTQ+ coworkers. Employees should feel safe and comfortable in their workplace and feel empowered to be out. Together, with data-driven strategies, we can build work environments that support LGBTQ+ individuals, by making LGBTQ+ inclusion a value embedded into your culture. Let's get started - Click Here to take our course, AllyUp!
- Kelsie