June is Pride Month to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and raise awareness about their issues. As an inclusive and diverse workplace, it’s vital to support our LGBTQ+ employees and promote a positive and welcoming environment for all. In this blog post, we’ll share 12 tips for celebrating Pride Month in your workplace in June and year-round.
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Educate yourself and your colleagues:
Take the time to educate yourself and your colleagues on LGBTQ+ issues, such as the history of Pride Month, the struggles the community has faced, and the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace. You can also invite speakers from LGBTQ+ organizations such as Stonewall to share their experiences and insights.
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Host an inclusion workshop:
Look at hosting a workshop for your company and include user-generated videos for the diversity of your LGBTQ+ employees or customers saying what Pride means to them – if they’re comfortable with it.
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Encourage employees to share their pronouns:
Create a safe space where employees can feel comfortable sharing their pronouns and encourage their use in email signatures, introductions, and other company communications.
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Show your support:
Display Pride flags, banners, and other decorations around the office; promote Pride Zoom or Teams backgrounds. You can also encourage your employees to wear rainbow colours or other LGBTQ+ symbols to show their support.
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Donate to an LGBTQ+ charity:
There are still a lot of LGBTQ+ causes that need support, and a charitable donation is a great way to show that you want to help. You could do fundraising in the office with a bake sale, a fun run, or dress up in rainbow clothes. There are many creative ways to do a fun-filled fundraiser — the sky’s the limit!
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Create an inclusive policy:
Review your policies and procedures to ensure they support LGBTQ+ employees. It can include policies around discrimination and harassment, gender-neutral restrooms, and employee benefits for same-sex partners.
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Celebrate with events and activities:
Organise events and activities to celebrate Pride Month, such as a fundraiser for an LGBTQ+ charity or joining a local Pride parade. You can also host workshops or training sessions to promote understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ+ issues.
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Amplify LGBTQ+ voices:
Give LGBTQ+ employees a platform to share their experiences and perspectives. It can include creating a space for employees to share their stories or featuring LGBTQ+ employees in company newsletters or social media posts.
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Use inclusive language:
Be mindful of using inclusive language, such as using “partner” instead of “husband” or “wife”, or “they/them” instead of assuming someone’s gender.
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Implement diversity and inclusion training:
Provide training to all employees on diversity and inclusion, including LGBTQ+ issues, to create a more inclusive workplace for everyone.
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Offer LGBTQ+ resources:
Train all employees with access to resources such as LGBTQ+ support groups or counselling
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Celebrate all year round:
Remember that Pride Month is not the only time to celebrate LGBTQ+ individuals. Continue to support and celebrate your LGBTQ+ employees throughout the year by incorporating inclusive practices into your workplace culture.
By following these 12 tips, you can create a welcoming and inclusive workplace for your LGBTQ+ employees and celebrate Pride Month in a meaningful way, not just in June but all year round. At our company, we believe that diversity and inclusivity are essential to creating a positive and productive workplace, and we are proud to support our LGBTQ+ employees and the wider community.