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Diversity and equality

11 ways employers can take Pride in their LGBTQ employees

By Amanda Schiavo
June 30, 2021 1:27 PM
Pride

The LGBTQ community has been fighting a long battle for representation and equality in the workplace, and while major strides have been made, there is still work to be done.

About 40% of LGBTQ workers still worry they could face discrimination from their boss, 27% fear they will alienate coworkers and 15% worry they could be fired for coming out at work, according to a survey of queer employees conducted by job platform Indeed.

Employers have a responsibility to make sure all of their employees feel seen and supported in bringing their true and authentic selves in the workplace.

“It's all about community and bringing people together to fight for a cause to support each other,” Paul Wolfe, head of global HR at Indeed, recently told Employee Benefit News. “It doesn't matter whether I'm gay or straight, it doesn't impact the way I do my job.”

Pride month is an opportunity to highlight these efforts, while recognizing the work that still needs to be done. Walmart recently announced a new benefits platform that provides care resources for the company’s LGBTQ employees through a partnership with Grand Rounds Health. The benefit provides employees with concierge services that specialize in connecting LGBTQ people and their loved ones with quality, affirming care. Other employers including PwC, Morgan Stanley and Included Health have all stepped up their LGBTQ inclusivity efforts through benefits or policy changes.

As Pride Month comes to a close, Employee Benefit News rounded up our most recent LGBTQ-focused articles in one place, so HR and benefits professionals can use it as a resource to help promote LGBTQ representation and equality in the workplace through actionable steps.

Scroll through to learn how you can better support your LGBTQ employees:

‘A basic human right’: Why your benefits may be failing your LGBTQ employees

For most, scheduling and attending a doctor’s appointment is nothing short of a chore — easy, if not boring. But for thousands of queer Americans, something as seemingly painless as a routine check-up often leads to an overwhelming sense of hopelessness.

Read More: ‘A basic human right’: Why your benefits may be failing your LGBTQ employees

Best — and worst — states for LGBTQ employees

Learn which states fare better than others when it comes to offering workplaces that work for and support LGBTQ employees.

Read More: Best — and worst — states for LGBTQ employees

The top 6 companies for LGBTQ employees

The six companies listed here are ranked as some of the best places to work for members of the LGBTQ community.

Read More: The top 6 companies for LGBTQ employees

Take PRIDE in your people: Supporting inclusive cultures from hiring to onboarding and beyond

When people don't feel free to bring their authentic selves to work, it negatively affects productivity, motivation, and even creative risk-taking. And the truth is, too many LGBTQ+ employees don't feel comfortable being themselves at work.

Read More: Take PRIDE in your people: Supporting inclusive cultures from hiring to onboarding and beyond

PwC is giving trans employees $75k for their healthcare costs

Nearly 1 in 5 transgender people have been denied health coverage simply because of their trans status, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. In an effort to alleviate that stress for their own employees, PwC is increasing its lifetime maximum for trans-related procedures and healthcare coverage from $25,000 to $75,000, starting July 1st of this year.

Read More: PwC is giving trans employees $75k for their healthcare costs

IBM study indicates employers need to do more to bridge gaps with LGBTQ community

While Pew research finds that positive attitudes toward LGBTQ people have seen double-digit increases, 45% of lesbian, gay and bisexual people surveyed by IBM and Out & Equal said their employer discriminates against people who share their sexual orientation, and over 66% of those people say they do not feel prepared to rise above these difficulties.

Read More: IBM study indicates employers need to do more to bridge gaps with LGBTQ community

LGBTQ workers feel excluded from benefits conversations, but employers can change that

Inclusive benefits can be powerful tools in the fight to create a more equitable workplace, but employers may be inadvertently keeping LGBTQ workers from particpating in these programs because of the way the perks are communicated. Krystal Barker sees this all the time. As the head of financial wellness for Morgan Stanley, she recently helped an employer who was eager to provide financial wellness programs to their employees but was struggling to find a benefits company that didn’t alienate LGBTQ workers in its presentation.

Read More: LGBTQ workers feel excluded from benefits conversations, but employers can change that

The pandemic has made it harder for LGBTQ employees to come out at work

Companies have continued to make strides toward creating inclusive and supportive office settings for their queer employees, but that hasn’t necessarily made coming out any easier — especially when faced with a global pandemic. Remote work doesn’t offer as many opportunities for personal relationships to build among colleagues, and some employees might still be unable to reveal their authentic selves in their at-home environment.

Read More: The pandemic has made it harder for LGBTQ employees to come out at work

Even the smallest change can create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ employees

It’s not enough for an employer to just say that they are inclusive. In order to implement effective change, employers must create tangible policies and workplace norms that create affirming and supportive environments and there are several ways an employer can accomplish this goal.

Read More: Even the smallest change can create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ employees

Included Health and social media app Grindr have teamed up to bring queer employees better coverage

In a continued effort to expand healthcare offerings for the LGBTQ community, concierge healthcare provider Included Health partnered with the world's largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans and queer people — Grindr. The partnership offers Grindr’s LGBTQ employees and their loved ones access to dedicated care coordinators who can help them find supportive, affirming healthcare providers and navigate challenges in the healthcare system.

Read More: Included Health and social media app Grindr have teamed up to bring queer employees better coverage

Want your employees to feel safe and welcome at work? Inclusion starts with leadership

The truest indicator of your skills as a leader is the team you build around you. Look at the team you have in front of you, and if everyone looks exactly the same as you and thinks exactly the same as you, then you have a real opportunity to make a positive and impactful change. Diversity isn’t just about making your team feel comfortable — it’s about building a strong operation that is full of folks that will challenge and push you in valuable ways.

Read More: Want your employees to feel safe and welcome at work? Inclusion starts with leadership
Amanda Schiavo
Associate Editor, Employee Benefit News
Diversity and equality LGBTQ Employee benefits
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