Pride Month - How to create an inclusive and diverse environment at work

Pride month is celebrated in June and you may be considering how you can recognise the importance of this month in your workplace. 

Creating an inclusive environment at work can improve relations with staff, help you to attract and retain people and avoid legal risk. However, the CIPD warns that employers should avoid tokenism, and instead consider meaningful activities.  

Here are 5 ways you can create a more supportive and inclusive environment at work:

• Learn about LGBTIQ+ and ensure you understand your obligations under the Equality Act 2010, which is in place to protect people from discrimination.

• Review your workplace policies to make sure there are no inclusion barriers. Make sure they're inclusive of all gender identities and sexualities.

• You should also have an Equal Opportunities statement, which outline; your attitude towards equality and diversity, the work environment that you want to create and that discrimination will not be tolerated.

• Review the language and communication used everyday at work to ensure it is inclusive. 

• Provide diversity training, which can help employees be more aware of their own assumptions and biases 

Small changes such as these can help to develop a work culture where every team member feels appreciated regardless of gender orientation.