Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade and Festival is a celebration of self-expression, celebration, and passion. It is a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and also about the work that remains to be done. Inclusive workplaces play a vital role in helping people share their stories and feel supported. In the lead up to the 2022 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday 5 March, we’d like to share some amazing stories of company culture told by our very own Employsure employee.
Senior Claims Adviser Rhys Walker In Own Words:
“When I first came on board with Employsure I was about to get married to my husband. Not only did my team have my back 150%, they encouraged and supported me, so much so, one of my colleagues even helped calm my nerves and cried with me the night before the wedding as I was writing my vows.
Inclusiveness at Employsure has meant I’ve had the flexibility and understanding to support my husband when his disability has got in the way of life. Unfortunately we don’t have acceptance from all of our family, my Employsure Team sent me flowers when life was throwing curveballs. This was appreciated. I feel have truly been supported and included.
Inclusiveness has meant that when I started a charity to support victims of gay conversion therapy, my colleagues called and emailed from both NZ and Australia and asked how they could help. When I shared my story in the media, instead of brushing it off, my team checked in with me, and shared it wherever they could with pride! They provided support and encouragement in my journey.
Inclusiveness has also meant that when I suggested we get involved in a LGBTQIA+ pride exercise event that not only did I get a team together, we had a full-blown support network, fundraising for Rainbow Youth and supporting the cause, more than we could ever have imagined!
"Workplace inclusiveness has been pivotal to my success because I don’t feel like I am living under a cloud."
I feel I can be my genuine self when I’m working, I feel Employsure have my back. This sense of belonging has driven my commitment and ability to be my best self at work, which in turn, has helped me become a more confident person in my personal life.
This is important because it means that LGBTQIA+ employees aren’t held back from their potential, and when they feel supported, they are more likely to be positively engaged with the employer. Most people in the LGBTQIA+ community have been met with adversity, and discrimination, the last thing they need is for an employer to put roadblocks in their way. I feel I can go to my team with pretty much anything, knowing they are so genuinely accepting of me – something that is definitely unique to Employsure.
So many employers can learn that by embracing each and every employee’s uniqueness and their identity, that they will find themselves having a deeper trust and more commitment from them.
Your LGBTQIA+ employees don’t want to be tokens, they don’t want to be singled out or treated differently. They want to feel like part of the furniture, they want to have themselves and their journey to be just as valid as their straight counterparts.
"Rather than just having a policy saying “we’re an embracing workplace,” we actually live it!"
I understand that many LGBTQIA+ employees come from a place of non-acceptance. If employees feel they can trust their employer and are supported with something so crucial to who they are, they will have no issues relating to you on a very real and human level.”
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