In honour of LGBT history month and recognising the discrimination LGBTQ+ people face day-in-day-out, Manchester-based Health Assured has launched a project to help. On Wednesday 15th February, Health Assured’s inclusivity and diversity group, Undivided, will take over the company’s Instagram account with a video Q&A session on how to support LGBTQ+ individuals at work.
Kayleigh Frost, Head of Clinical Support at Health Assured, says “Many people – employees and employers alike – want to do more to support inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. But they might not always know how to approach the subject or may not fully understand the challenges people face.
“More than a third of LGBT staff (35%) have hidden that their sexuality at work for fear of discrimination. And this is hardly a surprise, as the figures show that 9 in 10 LGBTQ+ people have experienced verbal abuse at some point in their lives.
“Hiding aspects of who you are and living in fear of discrimination can have a huge impact on mental health. And it’s up to us all to do our bit to make a change.
“Making a change requires effort and learning, and that’s what this Q&A is here to do. We’ve got 10 volunteers from our undivided group, many of whom identify as LGBTQ+, answering a range of questions including:
- Why is it important to create a safe space to discuss sexuality/identity in the workplace?
- Is there a way to create a safe space for people to talk about their sexuality/identity openly at work?
- How can we work to become more accepting and inclusive towards the LGBTQ+ community at work?
- How can you promote pride in the workplace?
“Creating an LGBTQ+ inclusive workspace means employees at Health Assured feel empowered to be their true authentic self in the workplace.”
Clinical Support Manager Jodie Hughes says “When I joined Health Assured, I was surrounded by colleagues who were open about their sexuality, identity, and gender etc. This encouraged me to be myself in a very casual way. Even little things such as managers speaking opening about their lived experiences was eye opening for me.
“I am proud to be a part of the inclusive and diverse culture we have here. This session will give you a fantastic insight into LGBTQ+ at work, and we can’t wait to share it with you.”
The Q&A session starts at 13:00 on Wednesday 15 February on Health Assured’s Instagram account @healthassured.
