Happy Pride Month! In honor of Pride this month, Legal Innovators is sharing some tips for how to make your workplace more LGBTQ+ inclusive. Check out the suggested tips below!
Tip #1: Know your terms!
Ensure employees are equipped to have respectful conversations about Pride Month and LGBTQ+ issues with trainings and other resources that educate on the appropriate terms to use. Consider sharing these great resources from GLAAD to get started:
Tip #2: Ensure your workplace provides benefits packages that support your LGBTQ+ employees.
Be sure that your employee benefits meet these criteria:
- Benefits that apply to parents do not discriminate against same-sex couples by using terms like “mother” and “father” instead of “parent”
- Benefits like health and life insurance do not exclude same-sex partners, and account for domestic partner recognition
- Benefits like health insurance support the medical needs of transgender employees
Tip #3: Intentionally foster an inclusive workplace culture.
Here are some ways to get started:
- Include pronouns as a standard part of introductions
- Use gender neutral language in workplace policies and documents
- Encourage employees to include pronouns in email signatures
- Ensure gender neutral bathrooms are accessible and clearly marked
- Don’t presume heterosexual relationships at workplace social events
- Revisit dress codes to ensure they are gender neutral and allow employees to be their authentic selves in the workplace
Tip #4: As a company, sponsor events and organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.
Here are some great organizations your workplace can support:
- The LGBTQ Freedom Fund, which provides bail support to incarcerated LGBTQ+ people
- The Sylvia Rivera Law Project, which provides low-income LGBTQ+ people in New York City with legal aid
- The Okra Project, which provides food to Black trans people
- The Ali Forney Center, which is a homeless shelter for LGBTQ+ youth
Like our tips? Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for more content!