5 Ways to Meaningfully Celebrate Pride Month in Your Hybrid Workplace
Happy Pride Month! As we roll into June, it is important to remember that celebrating Pride in the workplace is a crucial part of boosting inclusivity and honoring LGBTQ+ employees. Honoring Pride Month is both the right and sensible thing to do: According to a recent study, inclusive businesses are 1.7 times more likely to be leaders of innovation in their market. More than ever, employees are looking to their workplaces to invest in important issues.
Here are some effective ways to boost D&I and support the LGBTQ community at your company:
1. Host an inclusivity workshop
A workshop is the perfect opportunity to amplify LGBTQ+ voices in your community and help attendees reflect on how they can help to foster an inclusive work environment. Sessions are typically led by external professionals, but smaller breakout rooms can facilitate safe spaces for employees to share their own thoughts and experiences.
Having a comprehensive workshop where non-LGBTQ+ colleagues educate themselves on correct terminology, pronouns, and inclusivity policies can set your company up for success and growth.
2. Give back
A great way to celebrate Pride is to give back, period. While the month of June is a great time to support LGBTQ+ organizations, this should be a part of a continuous effort all year long. Consider investing in regular contributions to Black, Indigenous, or POC-led Queer organizations or find local LGBTQ+ centers to partner with or volunteer at.
Here are a few of our favorite organizations you can explore:
3. Review diversity & inclusion policies
A crucial part of building any brand is committing to an elevated level of corporate social responsibility. Take a moment to evaluate whether current diversity policies are meeting the needs of your LGBTQ+ employees. This is something companies should be doing all year-round, but Pride Month is a great opportunity to take stock!
4. Amplify LGBTQ+ voices
The best way to amplify queer voices is to start with your own community. Creating a safe space for stakeholders to celebrate and share their experiences, whether it’s through an employee spotlight or organizing a Pride March, is crucial to building a community that feels heard and recognized.
Booking an external speaker is also a terrific way to educate employees on a wide range of topics and perspectives. Compelling speakers like Billie Jean King and Juno Dawson have the power to uplift community members by sharing their lived experiences. Many speakers are now offering in-person sessions in addition to virtual talks.
5. Rock the rainbow
If you didn’t get a chance to do so last year, think about decorating the office this year or even having virtual Pride backgrounds or event updates corporate signatures to show your solidarity. Social media is also an obvious high-visibility way to rock the rainbow. These are quick wins and allow you to show your stakeholders what you stand for.
At IDX, we’re committed to making our workplace as inclusive and supportive as possible. To learn more about how you can innovate with us, check out our careers page, here.