22 June, 2022
Unity in Diversity: How to Celebrate Pride at your Workplace
When one thinks of Pride Month, colorful celebrations, rainbows, and parade floats usually come to mind. But it is important to understand that celebrating Pride is much more than a weekend dedicated to breezy festivities- the month of June marks the quintessential beginning of the LGBTQ+ movement in North America that surged a global revolution for diversity and inclusion.
Building on the strong business case of DI&E, this blog walks you through the importance of celebrating pride at the workplace and also enlists a few unique ideas that can be implemented to foster a sense of belonging among your underrepresented work groups- whether remote or in-office.
What is Pride?
Circling back to the basics, June is recognized as LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 in which the police clashed with LGBTQ+ protestors. The reason this incident has been ingrained as a tipping point in queer history is because it was not just the beginning of a cultural transformation- it was also the end of oppression, discrimination, and tolerance for prejudice.
Today, Pride celebrations are held across the globe to honor the queer community through parades, lectures, awareness sessions, picnics, and more. With the ongoing Pride month, the important thing to keep in mind is- You don’t need to fall under any of the queer categories to celebrate Pride as this is not about how you identify yourself; it is about supporting equal representation for all, irrespective of their identity!
Why is it Important to Celebrate Pride at the Workplace?
Although there have been ground-breaking developments with regards to diversity and inclusion, there is still a long way to go. For instance, according to a McKinsey report, LGBTQ+ women are more underrepresented than women generally in some of the largest corporations and trans employees still face a distinct set of obstacles to performance and career progression. Moreover, just four openly LGBTQ+ CEOs head these corporations. These statistics shed light on the quantum of effort that needs to be undertaken to harbor a safe and prudent organizational culture for all employees alike.
Apart from institutionalizing fairness, celebrating Pride also has a direct impact on the bottom line. Organizations with above-average diversity produce a greater proportion of revenue from innovation (45% of total) than from companies with below average diversity (26%), Forbes highlights. This 19% innovation-related advantage that comes from a diverse talent pool translates into overall better financial performance. Thus, acknowledging and recognizing Pride at the workplace is instrumental to endorse awareness and boost equality, whilst supporting the causes of the LGBTQ+ community.
5 Creative Ideas to Foster Diversity and Inclusion at the Workplace
1. Educate to Celebrate
Before proceeding with inclusivity, it is essential to be well-versed with the holistic gamut of Pride. Create educational opportunities for your employees in the form of seminars, thought leadership sessions, meet and greet with queer stalwarts, and counseling. To engage a hybrid workforce, a digital employee engagement platform can work as a one-stop solution to organize, execute, and track such activities.
2. Offer Pride-Themed Merchandize
Who doesn’t like some delightful company swag? If you already have a digital R&R solution in place, you can leverage the solution provider’s merchandising capabilities to design customized Pride-themed gifts and reward options- all of which can be redeemed with ease through the reward redemption portal. Rainbow flags, pins and badges, hats, stationery, or bags are all good choices- you can even put together a goody bag with a few of these items clubbed together!
Read more about the power of customization in employee rewards here.
3. Incentivize Pride Celebration
R&R technology has enabled seamless execution of innovative ideas, such as theme-based incentivization. With features such as virtual contests and a gamified R&R structure, you can offer reward points for successful participation in Pride-themed activities- a few examples include posting a rainbow selfie, attending a Pride event, placing a rainbow flag or pin on your desk, or attempting an LGBTQ+ awareness quiz.
4. Support LGBTQ+ Causes
Studies show that workplace rewards have greater impact on employee engagement when they are value-driven and closely aligned with employees’ beliefs. Include ‘Donate to Pride Charity’ options in your rewards catalog and offer your people a way to give back to the community.
5. Recognize your Queer Heroes
One great way in which you can demonstrate support and solidarity is by celebrating the accomplishments of your LGBTQ+ employees. This could be done publicly through social recognition over your R&R platform, or privately in the form of a heartfelt message from their manager. No matter how you do it, remember that authentic, genuine appreciation results in a long-term impact on the receiver that culminates into amplified happiness, motivation, and loyalty.
Be Proud of Pride!
Addressing diversity and inclusion at scale can be an eye-opening experience for all your stakeholders. Adapting to cultural transformation and establishing fairness in the workplace puts you at the forefront of change; and can do wonders in elevating your credibility as a progressive, forward-looking organization. Furthermore, if you belong to the HR fraternity, the responsibility of building a psychologically safe environment for people lies in your hands.
Ready to manifest a celebratory organizational culture founded on robust DI&E principles? We can help! Connect with us today to explore the myriad offerings of our revolutionary employee engagement platform