Aussie workers undergoing LGBTQIA+ courses to prevent unconscious bias

A free course with advice on how to support people coming out is gaining praise from some of our biggest companies. Here’s why.

An executive at one of Australia’s biggest confectionary companies says if pronouns had been on emails when he was a younger man, he would have felt more comfortable coming out earlier.

Mars Wrigley portfolio director Drew Davis is encouraging his employees to take an online inclusivity course around LGBTQIA+ issues to help break down conscious and unconscious bias and help employees be their authentic selves on the job.

“I know the impact this would have had on me, as a gay man, when I started out in my career – it would have been enormous,” he says.

“Even something as simple as adding pronouns to signatures would have encouraged me to come out earlier because I could see my community feeling welcome.”

Mars Wrigley’s Drew Davis says the course promotes inclusivity.

“We’ve had employees whose children are going through this, so we give them information and advice and employees themselves who want to be better educated around these issues,” Davis added.

GUIDING HAND

The eight-part educational course includes a guide to words and definitions in the LGBTQIA+ community and learning how to support people coming out.

Leadership expert Karen Gately.

It’s a free module in the Skittles Minus18 Ally Pledge platform and would take about an hour to complete.

Davis says while the course is not mandatory, since encouraging his 700 Australian staff he’s seen even more improvements in inclusivity.

“Now as a leader, I’m a big believer in being your authentic self. That’s when people unlock themselves and do their best.

“They can walk into the office every day and be completely transparent but if you’re putting on a false mask and not being entirely honest that has a negative impact on your professional performance.”

Leadership expert and trainer Karen Gately would like to see the course as part of business training across Australia and for it to be mandatory for managers.

“It’s a super powerful education tool to demystify some people and have greater understanding,’’ Gately says.

“It’s hard enough to find great people to build teams without cutting out some members of our community because of conscious or unconscious bias.”

HARASSMENT

A recent study by Diversity Council Australia found LGBTQIA+ workers were almost 50 per cent more likely to experience harassment in the workplace than their heterosexual counterparts.

Those employees working in inclusive teams are about seven times less likely to have experienced discrimination than those in non-inclusive teams.

“If you have LGBTQIA+ people in your team they need to be able to be who they are.”

Gately agrees a worker who feels they can be authentic at work and talk about and include their partners will work more effectively.

“Human beings don’t step out of home suit to work suit,” she says. “They’re one person. If I’m a gay person, for example, who hasn’t found the way to come out, but my employer is saying this is something we don’t just tolerate, but also respect because we want people to live their full lives, it makes a profound difference to me.

“Also the world is changing all the time around gender identity and many people have good intentions without bias but also don’t have the tools in their toolkit to understand how to be supportive.”

Being your authentic self at home and at work is vital for all workers. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty

Gately adds we “must be mindful of people’s own journeys if they have a religious reason for being seriously opposed, so it won’t help to be forced but I’d add it to all management training because part of being a leader is getting the best out of everyone”.

GREATER AWARENESS

Minus18 strategic relationships lead Adrian Murdoch says the purpose of the educational course is for all employees to become allies of LGBTQIA+ workers aside from developing greater awareness within the wider community.

Adrian Murdoch (second from left) and Drew Davis (far right) with the team at Minus18.

Minus18 is Australia’s champions for LGBTQIA+ young people aged 12-25 through events, campaigns, and education.

“It’s not something that ends at the workplace,” Murdoch says.

“It’s all about respect. Language and identities have evolved outside this community and there’s a real need to consider how workplaces can keep up with the changes we see in society.

“As people feel empowered to express their identity, they know their workplace understands what inclusion looks like and also what discrimination looks like.

“For any workplace across Australian that wants to be inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s essential to give everyone the tools. Empower your team by giving them an hour to do this course.”

SHOWING SUPPORT

1. Learn the correct words and definitions in the LGBTIA+ community.

2. Educate yourself on being an ally.

3. Add pronouns to your signature and social media.

4. Connect on social media with LGTBIA+ organisations and advocates.

5. Be visible by hanging up posters and fly the rainbow flag.

6. Activate during campaigns such as International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and

Transphobia.

7. Learn how to support people who are coming out.

8. Speak up and educate others at every opportunity.

Source: Minus18

Originally published as Aussie workers undergoing LGBTQIA+ courses to prevent unconscious bias