How to make workplace equity a year-round priority

June 23, 2023 11:00 AM

How are you celebrating Pride month at work?

It's likely you have an answer to that question. But here's a tougher one: How are you celebrating your LGBTQ workers next month?

As we approach the end of June, organizations across the country are no doubt celebrating Pride and inclusion with happy hours, trivias and thoughtful programming on equity. But the real work of creating an inclusive business culture, experts say, happens the rest of the calendar year.

"It's not enough to change your logo for Pride month," says Sarah Reynolds, CMO of analytics platform HiBob. "How do I make sure I am really thinking about inclusivity across the many different facets of people's everyday lives?"

Reynolds recently spoke to EBN about stretching DEI efforts to touch on all 365 days of the year; leaders from other organizations also shared insight on the biggest challenges facing the LGBTQ community right now — and there are plenty of them — and what role employers can play in offering support.

Going beyond Pride Month: Ongoing strategies for LGBTQ inclusivity

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Going beyond Pride Month: Ongoing strategies for LGBTQ inclusivity

As anti-LGBTQ legislation continues to pass on state and national levels, Pride celebrations aren't enough to establish true workplace equity and inclusion.

"We want to make Pride and DEI something that we talk about year-round," says Hibob's Reynolds. "As a company that caters to the HR community, we host year-round events that focus on how to build a culture of inclusivity. How do you think about inclusivity as a journey and not a destination?"

How anti-LGBTQ legislation is impacting employees and their families

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How anti-LGBTQ legislation is impacting employees and their families

So far in 2023, over 520 bills limiting the rights of LGBTQ people have been introduced, including over 220 specifically targeting transgender and non-binary people.

"We underestimate the mental stress that this can cause to families," says Emily Pesce, CEO of teletherapy company Joon. She challenges employers to be extra mindful about how they show support to the queer families within their organization. "How are you telling your employees that you understand it's a difficult time for families?"

What the LGBTQ community needs from their mental health care

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What the LGBTQ community needs from their mental health care

The National Institutes of Health estimate that 60% of rural Americans live in a mental health provider shortage area, meaning there are 30,000 citizens to one mental health care professional. Finding a therapist who is in-network, has experience helping the LGBTQ community and has availability will not be easy, says Nicholette Leanza, a therapist with in-person and virtual mental health care provider LifeStance Health. Once race is added to the framework, the number of affordable and informed therapists shrinks again.

"An individual who is Black and identifies under the LGBTQ umbrella needs a therapist who will not judge them for identifying as LGBTQ, and is at least culturally competent enough to understand the nuances of being Black in America," says Leanza. "Anytime you're adding different ethnicities and racial backgrounds, it's just harder."