In today’s professional part of the world, it is extremely important for companies and workplaces to form welcoming and open spaces for all to feel comfortable in order for workers to thrive. For the LGBTQ+ community, being themselves can be both an encouraging yet scary experience. Learning to embrace who you really are as a person can lead to a more satisfactory work life and can help your mental well being as well.
Banner of pride flags
The Power of Authenticity in the Workplace
Being your true self at work means that you feel comfortable to express who you are without feeling scared or judged. Research has shown that when individuals feel more accepted at work, they are able to be more engaged and follow through in their roles to a better standard. For me, in my workplace, I feel very safe and welcomed, even though at first it was scary. I learned that expressing who I am is the first step to stepping out of your shell. Although this was a daunting step to take, I realized that being myself is only what is going to allow me to perform to the best of my abilities.
The Challenges LGBTQ+ Employees Face
There are many obstacles that LGBTQ+ employees have to face like:
- Fear of being treated differently or unfairly by others in the workplace
- Not being respected by leadership
- No policy or benefits that are inclusive for things like healthcare coverage for same sex marriage or gender-affirming care
- Assumptions being made about you
These obstacles can lead to a lot of anxiety and stress, when work is supposed to be a place that you thrive in achieving in an area you worked hard to get to.
Poster of all Pride Flags
Navigating the Workplace as an LGBTQ+ Employee
If you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, here are some ways you can embrace your true self in the place you work:
- Look to those who do support you – whether in leadership or not
- Create boundaries and advocate for yourself
- Look for leadership opportunities so that you are included more
- Make sure you are focused on yourself and mental well being first and foremost
Finding a Place to Work that Aligns with Your Values
When finding a place to work that you feel comfortable, you need to be able to research what the company’s values are and what they believe in to see if it aligns with what you do. Creating policies that promote protection for LGBTQ+ employees, like allowing members of the LGBTQ+ community to be promoted and have leadership roles will benefit everyone so that the workplace becomes a comfortable place for all. Sometimes, it is not going to, and you could take this opportunity to advocate for yourself, or keep your job search going. Making sure you really do your research (for many reasons) on a company is crucial before stepping into a role that makes you feel like you don’t belong.
Here are a some ways to look at a company’s values:
- Look at who is in leadership – look at their profiles… are they an ally? What does it seem like their values are?
- Do research on the company as a whole – does it say anything about what they believe in? Who works for the company?
- Reach out to those who do work for the company to get some insight
- Have questions prepared for the interview
Steps Toward a More Inclusive Workplace
Everyone in the place you work plays a role in creating a welcoming and accepting environment for all. Here are some steps that can be taken as an ally of the LGBTQ+:
- Build a community within your workplace
- Advocate for fair hiring practices
- Use gender-inclusive language and respect individuals’ pronouns
- Speak Up about discrimination
- Educate Yourself
- Create fair and equal hiring practices that involve everyone including the LGBTQ+ employees
Graphic of Protest for Pride
Looking Ahead: A Future of Inclusion and Belonging
Where you work should be a place where you can feel comfortable no matter who you are. For me, using different pronouns than someone else (she/they), I have learned that being myself is going to take me the farthest and allow me to be the most successful. Inclusive work creates a work environment that benefits everyone!
Everyone needs to be celebrated in businesses. You shouldn’t have to choose between your happiness and professional success! Together, we can build a future where every workplace is a space of belonging.
By: Macey Martin
