LGBTQIAP+ inclusion in the job market: essential practices for companies
On June 2, the city of São Paulo hosted the LGBT Pride Parade and a series of events celebrating LGBT pride month. It was an excellent opportunity to reflect on LGBT inclusion in the job market and what practices are essential for companies.
Prejudice towards the LGBT community permeates the various layers of our society and is also present in the job market. But in the last two decades, thanks to the visibility of events like the LGBT Parade in São Paulo and other struggles and initiatives, it has been possible to raise awareness in society and in companies more specifically about the importance of diversity.
More and more companies are realizing that some situations - which used to take place in selection processes, career progression or in the day-to-day running of organizations - are absolutely anachronistic, inhumane and not compatible with the company's values and mission.
They even get in the way of the teams' work and have a negative impact on the end consumer.
What's the point in someone having to pretend to be something they're not? What is the point of censoring a collaborator on the basis of their sexual orientation? How can sexual orientation hinder or interfere with professional performance and belonging?
These and other questions have been asked by company leaders and make teams think about new attitudes and behaviors.
On the other hand, the LGBT community has received support from the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches with the creation of laws and practices that guarantee the rights of the LGBT community. And these advances need to be assimilated by companies.
LGBT inclusion in the job market enables greater diversity of talent and this factor is directly related to innovation. More diverse teams have more innovative ideas and projects. What's more, inclusion helps employees stay in their jobs, strengthening their identity and sense of belonging.
Essential practices for companies to promote LGBTQIAP+ inclusion in the labor market
The first step has to come from top management. There has to be a desire to change in order to achieve new and better results or simply to make working relationships as humane as possible.
Next, directors, managers, teams and employees need to be sensitized to prejudice. This process can be done through a diversity census and then with conversation circles, courses, lectures, the creation of affinity groups, among other measures.
Another important tool in this process of changing habits, and consequently new cultures and learning, is to measure the impact of these actions on the business. Valuing diversity is an important action from the point of view of company values, but it is also fundamental for financial profitability.
We at PlurieBRWe've been doing this work, with essential practices for companies, for two years now. And over that time, we've had case studies attesting to the fact that LGBT inclusion in companies and the job market is an opportunity for development, for companies and above all for people.