Yet another Pride Month has concluded. While June saw several companies reinforcing their commitment to creating inclusive spaces, as it comes to a close, here are four reflections to ensure action around the year.
Reach out to LGBTQ+ talent: While messaging has remained crucial to signal change, it is important to hire and retain talent from these groups to exemplify inclusion.
The 2022 Most Inclusive Companies Index, which gauges intentionality in the diversity strands, has found that inclusive companies reach out to the group through social media. 70% of companies on MICI engage social media to reach out to the LGBTQ talent pool. 90% of Champions and 63% of Exemplars engage social media for the purpose.
Create inclusive culture through processes: Exclusion of the talent in the LGBTQ+ group can manifest at different levels. The 2022 MICI findings have revealed that the exemplars and champions of inclusion follow steps to keep a check on exclusion from the hiring stage to engagement and create a sense of belonging.
The 2022 MICI reveals that 82.5% of companies on MICI have LGBTQ networks for their employees – 100% of champions have LGBTQ networks for their employees, and 77% of Exemplars have these.
Foster allyship: Allyship, in which a person from outside the underrepresented group, voices out support, demonstrates it, and advocates for change and action, is powerful. 83% of the companies on the index host events to foster a culture of allyship for the LGBTQ Community. 100% of Champions and 77% of Exemplars have such programs. Allyship is not just instrumental in change but also is crucial to create a strong company culture.
Looking beyond tokenism: While it is imperative to touch the crescendo in conversations around LGBTQ+ during this period, it is important to keep the conversations alive throughout the year, showcasing the commitment to transformation — a sustainable one.
