Pride in the Workplace—In this case I’m not necessarily talking about pride in your company or pride in your work, that is important too, but instead I’m talking about LGBT pride at work. Since it is LGBT pride month I thought that I would write about how it’s important to be who you are and be accepted for who you are in your workplace.
Part of what sparked the topic of this post is that I recently had a friend quit his job due in part to his company’s intolerance for the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Orlando. There is definitely a quality of life issue when you don’t feel accepted, it makes you angry, sad, and less of a person.
In my past work environments, some of my more conservative and religious co-workers made me feel like I needed to hide my personal life and conform to the heterosexual norm in the office. I would avoid answering personal questions from them, I would even lie and say that I was single when I actually was dating someone, as to not give anything away. Some jokes that would make me uncomfortable and sometimes offend me I had to just smile and nod. There were times I even felt that I could be fired if I was “out” at the office, and since Illinois is a state where that can still happen it was a real concern. In fact, according to Equality Illinois “65% of Americans live in states where LGBT people have no explicit statewide workplace protections that include sexual orientation and gender identity”. To get a better idea of the larger issue, I prompt you to watch this CNN feature on the plight of closeted workers in corporate America, living a double life and the struggles of coming out in the workplace.
Today, I work for Netrix and they are the first company I have worked for that I feel like I can be myself in the workplace. Although Netrix is an At-Will Employer, they do have language in their Equal Employment Opportunity Policy that protects against discrimination. They have also started a Culture Committee which has developed a set of ideals for the company that helps foster growth, knowledge and community within the company. It creates an environment that feels like family and everyone is accepted and an integral part of the company.
I’m happy that I work at a place and with co-workers that are accepting of who I am. Now, I don’t wave a rainbow flag at work but I do have a framed photo of my boyfriend among the personal items at my desk and I am comfortable talking freely about my personal life with coworkers. It makes my work-life balance more enjoyable and makes me feel more whole as a person.
Currently, I have been in discussion with the Netrix Culture Committee to help start a Pride Alliance group at the company, which would volunteer in the community and hold social events.
If you are and LGBT person who is not out at work I encourage you to test the waters at your workplace, the Human Rights Campaign has a nice article on coming out at work. Or if you are a supporter of equal rights then I suggest you to visit the following links:
- Equality Illinois helps equal right causes across the state of Illinois
- The Human Rights Campain helps equal right causes nationwide
- Find corporations that support equal rights
- Donate to the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando
- And this upcoming webinar on “LGBT Inclusion in the Workplace” just came across my email today