How can people be at their best in their careers if they work in an environment in which they don’t feel safe fully revealing who they are?
That is a question faced by millions of LGBTQ workers and their employers every day. According to a recent survey by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 46 percent of LGBTQ workers say they are closeted, 53 percent are hearing jokes about LGBTQ people at work, and 31 percent are unhappy at their workplace because they don’t feel safe or well represented. Rebecca Snow, global vice president for people and organization at Mars, understands those feelings based upon her own life’s journey as someone who identifies as lesbian. “Through my personal experience, I have learned how much productivity and happiness is eroded when people cannot be themselves — both in their personal life and at work,” Snow told TriplePundit. “I have a deep belief that businesses will be more successful — and employees will be more creative and engaged — when people can authentically be themselves.”
That starts with creating psychological safety and building teams on trust as a foundational principle, Snow continued. Leaders set the tone by being open about their personal strengths, weaknesses, successes and mistakes; asking for help when they need it; getting to know their employees as human beings, both personally and professionally; and recognizing they are “not always the smartest person in the room,” she said. While Mars recognizes the climate can be tense for brands taking a stand on public issues, it has remained steadfast in its shows of support for the LGBTQ community and associates who identify as LGBTQ.
This article is written by Gary E. Frank. To read the full article, click here
