Workplace Pride Announces Academia@WorkplacePride

1 September 2020

The topic of academia and the inherent challenges for LGBTI persons studying or working within its many layers, is an area sorely in need of attention and discussion.

To officially launch this historic new program, Workplace Pride hosted an inaugural event in the form of a live webinar, hosted by one of the new co chairs of Workplace Pride, Dr. Michiel Kolman on August 24th 2020.

In response to the increase in the number of academic institutions who are now members of Workplace Pride and the fact that LGBTI workplace inclusion is a topic that runs deep through all levels of academia, Workplace Pride has decided to augment its current list of programs to include academia alongside current programs for women, technology and younger people.

Lyle Muns, the chair of LSvb brought a student-oriented and activistic perspective to the discussion.

The Workplace Pride chair for workplace inclusion at Leiden University, Prof. Jojanneke van der Toorn brought her insights as an ally using her body of research and an evidence-based approach to the discussion.

Professor Annetje Ottow is currently Vice-President of Utrecht University and she shared her thoughts on academic institutions and the challenges therein of improving inclusion and visibility of the LGBTI community.

“At this pivotal moment of social awareness in the world, it is refreshing to see academia engage in the crucial topic of LGBTI inclusion”, said David Pollard, Exec. Director of Workplace Pride, “ By providing a platform for our new Academia@WorkplacePride program, we hope to stimulate conversation and debate, and, most importantly, improve the working environment for LGBTI students, staff and faculty in higher education and research institutions”.

To see the webinar click here

Agency Organizes Re-integration of Trans People at Work

Being transgender in the workplace has always come with significant challenges. Whether this is the communication process with your colleagues, arranging leave for medical procedures, or the sheer uniqueness of a person’s transition for the organisation, it can be both daunting and frustrating.

Now, however, there is a new agency ‘Transwerkt Nederland’ (Trans Works Netherlands) which facilitates this process for both the person transitioning and the organisation through an integral approach putting the transitioning person in the middle point. As an initiative of the well established re-integration bureau “Job Coach Connect”, and at the request of Workplace Pride member UWV and civil society organisation TNN (Transgender Network Netherlands), this initiative has huge potential for both the transgender community and their employers.

In the article below, Petra van Dijk of Transwerkt Nederland tells her own story and relates how the tide has turned for the better for transgender people in Netherlands’ workplaces.

Later this fall, Workplace Pride office will be hosting a webinar with Transwerkt Nederland and dive into more detail about the complex issue of being transgender in the workplace.

Trans Werkt Nederland Supports Transgender People

About a year ago, a re-integration agency called Jobcoach Connect, was invited by Workplace Pride member, UWV and TNN (Transgender Network Netherlands) to tackle the low employment rate of transgender people in The Netherlands, through guidance and job coaching. This new initiative is called ‘Trans Werkt Nederland’ (Trans Works Netherlands)

From a study conducted in 2017, we learned that almost 20% of transgender people are unemployed or incapacitated and that 28% have a net income of less than €1.000 per month, despite 41% of them being well educated.

As a qualified job-coach and a experiential transgender woman, I think I can make a difference when it comes to empowering trans people. Be it helping them find work or to resolving challenges in their workplaces. I recently joined Trans Werkt Nederland because I think it’s important that the talent of transgender people is not wasted and that transgender people can function perfectly just like any other employee.

A lot of improvements still have to be made for LGBTQI+ people in the workplace. Recently, a consultancy organization called ‘Berenschot’ conducted a survey that showed that only 20% of Dutch companies have an active diversity policy. Another survey by IT service provider ‘Peak-IT’ showed that 20% of the supervisors and HRM managers are hesitant to hire a transgender person!

These times are very challenging. We’ve had the #metoo discussion, and the horrible death of George Floyd that outraged the world. The #blacklivesmatter movement demands the end the discrimination of people of color and ending institutionalized racism.

In the midst of all this, we have the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of people all over the world are infected, many getting sick. Lots of companies struggle: less work, employees working at home, decisions made on whether to continue with providing government support or letting people go or maybe even going bankrupt. Many are unemployed as a result, often being the most vulnerable with flexible or temporary contracts, young people working in the catering industry and the self-employed.

Recent developments in Hungary and Poland show that some European countries are not being progressive in their legislation for the LGBTQI+ community.

The recent ILGA Rainbow Index shows no progress for the LGBTQI+ situation in Europe.

However, I personally feel that times are slowly changing overall for the better for LGBTQI+ people. But at the same time I realize that I am very privileged as a Dutch, white, well-educated trans woman with a strong character and lots of support in my life. I know that many trans people are struggling, even in The Netherlands. Especially trans people of color, religious trans persons and sex-workers.

New Horizons Summer Edition is here!

31 July 2020

Workplace Pride members, allies and friends,

We are very proud to announce the launch of this year’s edition of our New Horizons magazine!

Our goals with this year’s edition in particular have been to stay the course, adapt and keep pushing for sharply relevant content from all sides through the prism of this magazine.

As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats and in this case the tide hasn’t been a buoyant economy, but the stark realities of a pandemic on a truly global scale. Seeing beyond the virus as we try to cope, has given us an insight into the urgent need the LGBTI community has to remain in the dialogue as people feel the subtle erosion of existing inclusion in workplaces and societies around the world. The vision for this year’s edition was to broaden the scope of New Horizons to encompass Workplace Pride’s parallel course of expansion and adaption, as well as making it something you want to enjoy reading regardless!

There’s content chronicling our programming changes in 2020 and series of webinars culminating in our live Online Symposium with fascinating breakout sessions and speakers. The Open For Business city ratings highlighted Amsterdam as being the number one city in the world for economic competitiveness with a strong culture of LGBTI inclusivity.

Workplace Pride’s “Great Expectations: Envisioning a new decade of LGBTI workplace inclusion” theme explores the new decade and the challenges ahead of course the profound influence of the pandemic so far.

Professor Jojanneke Van der Toorn of Leiden University provided a fascinating article from on the “insidious” nature of heteronormative ideology which is a must-read. The United Nations LGBTI standards toolkit which has been receiving very positive feedback via our webinars and the Online Symposium is also heavily featured and provides tangible steps to tackling discrimination of LGBTI persons in the workplace and how to take action.

We can’t wait for you to get hold of the New Horizons Summer edition and look forward to your thoughts and feedback!

You can download this edition click on the PDF:

Workplace Pride welcomes Danone into the family

16 July 2020

We are happy to announce that Danone, a leading global food & beverage company built on three businesses: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products, Waters and Specialized Nutrition has joined the Workplace Pride Foundation. Amidst all of the adversity thrust upon us all in these anxious times, Danone has doubled down in its aims to further LGBTI workplace inclusivity and equality. With products being sold in 120 countries, and over 100,000 employees in over 55 countries, this visible support by a major multinational is a welcome message to LGBTI communities around the world.

“Inclusive Diversity is a key enabler for the delivery of our Danone 2030 Goals. We respect each person’s sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity and we want everyone to bring their whole and true self to our workplace. For Danone Benelux, LGBTI is an integral part of our Inclusive Diversity roadmap for the Benelux region, and we believe that we will make progress by participating in the LGBTI workplace equality.” – Judith Laarman, HRDI Danone Benelux

“We are delighted to welcome Danone to our group of organisations that are committed to creating equitable workplaces around the globe.” said David Pollard, Executive Director of Workplace Pride, “It is a welcome sign of commitment to our community to see such a large international organisation stand behind LGBTI workplace inclusion and diversity in these very challenging times of social upheaval and global pandemic”

Please join all of us in welcoming Danone to the Workplace Pride family of organisations.

Published July 16th 2020

Online Symposium Recap | Unilever Signs Declaration

1 June 2020

Friday, June 19th was the big day! After re-designing our entire 2020 program due to the global pandemic, overcoming extreme technological challenges, and shifting mid-stream to embrace the growing conversation surrounding the Black Life Matters movement, our 2020 Online Symposium finally hit the airwaves.

With over 400 registrations from 40 different countries, the Online Symposium provided an innovative forum to explore its theme of “Great Expectations: Envisioning a new decade of LGBTI workplace inclusion”.

The Symposium kicked off with a heartfelt interview with Claudia Brind-Woody from IBM who shared her own experience as an open lesbian in Academia and the business world. While she faced many challenges in her career, Claudia pointed out that she also seized and created many opportunities simply by being herself. She left us with the meaningful quote from the poet and writer Maya Angelou who said: “ My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness.”

The future of LGBTI workplace inclusion, and indeed social and economic interactions on many levels was covered in four interactive breakout sessions dealing with:

The economic impact of LGBTI inclusive cities (Open for Business)
A deep dive into Workplace Pride’s toolkit for the UN’s LGBTI Standards of Business Conduct (Graham Sparks, Dow & Shell)
The situation of the LGBTI community in Europe (ILGA Europe)
Attracting young talent in the future (Young@WorkplacePride)

Perhaps the highlight of the Symposium though was the signing of the Declaration of Amsterdam by Unilever. In a recorded message, Allan Jope, CEO of Unilever, outlined how important it was for his company to support LGBTI inclusion in all of their activities around the world. While it will be an ongoing challenge, his signing of the declaration was a very powerful step in the right direction. Workplace Pride salutes this effort in support of the LGBT community around the world, and encourages other organisations to do the same.

Allan’s recording was followed by an interview with two of his colleagues, Anne Schreuders and Frank Galestien, who explored in more detail how they envisioned LGBT inclusion at Unilever in the coming year, and how the company will progress towards its goal of being the most diverse and inclusive company in the world! To view PRESS RELEASE .

Keynote speaker: Claudia Brind-Woody, Managing Director Walgreens-Boots Alliance, IBM

**Keynote speaker: Alan Jope**, CEO Unilever, signs the Declaration of Amsterdam and shares his thoughts on how employers will address the LGBTI workplace in the coming decade

MARK EMDIN, BIANCA NIJHOF, MICHIEL KOLMAN

VIDEOS OF THE BREAKOUT SESSIONS BELOW:

To see the ILGA Europe Breakout click here

To see the Open For Business Breakout click here

To see the UN Standards Toolkit Breakout click here

To see the Young@Workplace Pride Breakout click here

Workplace Pride appoints new co-chairs to further foster LGBTI-inclusion

PRESS RELEASE

Amsterdam, June 22 2020

Amsterdam, June 22 2020 – Workplace Pride – a nonprofit foundation dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTI-people in workplaces worldwide – announced two new co-chairs to its Foundation Board. Michiel Kolman (Senior Vice President at Elsevier) and Bianca Nijhof (Managing Director at
Netherlands Water Partnership, NWP) are taking over the reins from Mark Emdin, who has chaired the Foundation for six years. Both have committed themselves to enhancing LGBTI rights as new co-chairs and to addressing LGBTI workplace inclusion – which is more relevant today than ever
before.

In an historic ruling issued last week, the United States’ Supreme Court decided that LGBTI people can no longer be formally discriminated against in the workplace. While this ruling has far-reaching implications for millions of American workers and opens the door to challenging other discriminatory practices, the state of affairs is not improving in many other countries and regions.

Limited priority for diversity and inclusion within organizations

An important task awaits the new co-chairs. Apart from the most distressing cases – such as the growing body of anti-LGBTI legislation in Poland and Hungary – discrimination and LGBTI-inclusion remains problematic in many regions and organizations. . A Berenschot research published last weekshows that for most companies in the Netherlands, diversity and inclusion are still not a priority: Only 20 percent of the surveyed companies pursue an active diversity policy and for most companies, diversity and inclusion were near the bottom of their priority list.

In addition, the current pandemic may be an incentive for governments and organizations to move diversity and inclusion further down their list of priorities. This is bad news not only for the LGBTI-community, but also for companies and governments, as an increasing body of literature shows that inclusion and diversity are strongly related to innovation and growth. Inclusion and diversity are not only a moral duties – they are assets, according to the new co-chairs.

About the new co-chairs of Workplace Pride: Michiel Kolman and Bianca Nijhof

During their careers, Michiel Kolman and Bianca Nijhof built up an extensive resumé when it comes to fostering LGBTI-inclusion in the workplace. In- and outside their respective organizations Elsevier and NWP, the two are recognised as prominent advocates of workplace inclusion. Both are already members of the Workplace Pride Board.

Michiel Kolman is Senior Vice President Information Industry Relationsat Elsevier andSpecial Envoy for Diversity and Inclusionat the International Publishers Association. At his employer, Kolman has been the driving force behind the coming about of Elsevier Pride. In 2014 and 2015, he was included in the OUTstanding 100, a list of LGBTI business leaders composed by the Financial Times.‘The business case for LGBTI inclusion has never been more compelling. Emphasis on diversity and inclusion is strongly correlated to innovation and creativity. Inclusion does not only benefit members of the LGBTI community, it is an asset to organizations and their cultures’, Kolman said regarding the announcement. During his time as co-chair, Kolman will commit to strengthening the academic pillar of the Foundation.

Michiel Kolman, Co-Chair Workplace Pride Foundation, June 2020

Bianca Nijhof is Managing Director at Netherlands Water Partnership. At previous employers as a member of the D&I team and now as the director she strives for a diverse and inclusive working environment. She is also the coordinator for the SDG 6 Alliance of The Netherlands working closely with the other SDG coordinators to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.‘I am proud to become co-chair together with Michiel for the Workplace Pride Foundation Board. Especially during these difficult times, when many existing norms are challenged, we need to think more intensively about implementing diversity and inclusion in its many forms. During my time as co-chair, I want to contribute to a world in which everyone has a say in the coming about of new standards’, Nijhof commented on her announcement as co-chair.

**Bianca Nijhof**, Co-Chair Workplace Pride Foundation, June 2020

PRESS RELEASE - Workplace Pride appoints new co-chairs to further foster LGBTI-inclusion

–END OF PRESS RELEASE –

Note for the press

For questions or interview requests, please contact; David Pollard – Executive Director at Workplace Pride Foundation, via [email protected] or Simone Schuilwerve –Communication Advisor at Issuemakers, via [email protected].

About Workplace Pride

Workplace Pride Foundation is the international, not for profit platform for the inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people at work. Its many members employ more than 4.5 million people worldwide. Initiated in 2006 with 4 corporate members Workplace Pride has seen enormous membership growth over the last years, leading up to more than 70 members today. Diversity among the members has been increasing with corporates (e.g. IBM), governments (e.g. Dutch Rijksoverheid), academic institutions (e.g. Leiden University), NGOs (e.g. Oxfam Novib) currently among the Foundation’s members. In recent years the Foundation has seen a surge in international activities at the request of its members, attracting organizations and individuals from across the globe. The Foundation has organised activities in countries ranging from Nairobi to Manilla, and from Singapore to Moscow.

Workplace Pride’s important results

In January 2017, Workplace Pride and Leiden University created the world’s first university professorship (Chair) dedicated exclusively to LGBTI workplace inclusion. The Workplace Pride Chair holder is Dr. Jojanneke van der Toorn. With the generous support of Foundation Member KPN, the 5-year duration of the Chair has taken this topic to a new level of scientific scrutiny, benefiting employers, employees, the academic world and the LGBTI community alike.

As of today close to 30 members have signed the Declaration of Amsterdam spelling out their commitment in 10 areas to achieve LGBTI workplace inclusion.

Around 40 members are participating annually in the Global Benchmark which will allow these organizations to see how they compare to others in 8 key areas of LGBTI workplace inclusion.

In 2020, Workplace Pride launched its toolkit for the United Nations LGBT Standards of Conduct for Business. This practical and tested business tool helps organizations implement their LGBTI policies and practice across the globe. The Toolkit has received the endorsement of both the United Nations and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Historic Ruling Against LGBTI Workplace Discrimination

16 June 2020

Workplace Pride is absolutely delighted with the USA Supreme Court ruling that LGBTI people can no longer be discriminated against in the workplace in the United States. This 6 to 3 ruling is both groundbreaking and historic and will have far-reaching implications around the world; particularly in those countries and regions of the world that have relied on populism to support homophobia, biphobia and transphobia – even in the workplace.

“While probably a coincidence with the Black Live Matters events and the emerging ‘civil rights movement version 2” , the timing of this ruling really could not be more significant.” said David Pollard, Executive Director of Workplace Pride Foundation. “It is a clear signal that LGBTI people, along with people of colour, and anyone else who feels marginalised, has a fundamental human right to be respected in society and treated as equals in the workplace”.

In the greater context of LGBTI workplace inclusion this ruling shows that, at least in the USA, the largest marketplace in the world, employers now have all the tools at hand to create workplaces that are truly inclusive and based on merit; not the colour of a person’s skin, identity, physical ability, gender or, indeed who they love.

Workplace Pride encourages all employers to now apply this same level of inclusion for LGBTI people in all of their activities around the world. Where they encounter resistance due to colonial-era laws or claims of ‘cultural inappropriateness’, it will be useful to remember that these, often antiquated concepts are now being universally challenged. It is also useful to remember that the LGBTI community and our many allies, (including investors as this Bloomberg article refers to) will always be mindful of those organisation who are supportive.

Finally, for Workplace Pride, our members, and our many friends and colleagues in the LGBTI community this is a validation that we are on the right track with our efforts. But it is also a reminder that there are still many places around the globe where LGBTI people cannot be themselves. It is our hope that this ruling will empower all employers to take a good hard look at where we are and where we all still need to go…together!

2020 Online Symposium on 19 June 2020

11 June 2020

ACCESS ONLINE SYMPOSIUM HERE

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

You are cordially invited to the Workplace Pride 2020 Online Symposium. With the theme of “Great expectations, Envisioning a new decade of LGBTI Workplace Inclusion”, the symposium will take a thorough look at both of the challenges and the opportunities for our community and for workplaces in the coming 10 years. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, this topic takes on a new urgency which will be addressed throughout the symposium.

Participants will learn from LGBTI workplace pioneer Claudia Brind-Woody about progress over the years and her vision for the future and take part in the signing of the Declaration of Amsterdam by Unilever CEO, Alan Jope. They will also have the opportunity to choose from four different breakout sessions looking at such diverse topics as:

Economic LGBTI competitiveness of cities,
Hurdles and possibilities for the LGBTI community in Europe,
Practical applications of the UN LGBTI Standards of Conduct for Business,
The vision of young LGBTI professionals for the coming decade.

Scroll below to see the full program.

The symposium is free and open to all, however, it is required to register ahead of time. Workplace Pride members will be given priority for unlimited registration until it opens to the public on Thursday, June 11th.

Date/Time: Friday, June 19th 2020: 15:00 – 17:00 (Amsterdam time) followed by 30 minutes of online networking & music.

Program

15:00 – 17:00

Symposium Moderator: Mark Emdin: Chair, Workplace Pride

Keynote speaker: Claudia Brind-Woody, Managing Director Walgreens-Boots Alliance, IBM

“A conversation with an LGBTI workplace pioneer. Thoughts and advice for the coming decade”

Breakouts: Sessions run simultaneously and participants may choose which one to attend.

1. “ What is the future for LGBTI progress in Europe?”

With their annual Rainbow Map just being published, ILGA Europe knows better than most about the situation for LGBTI people across the continent. This breakout looks at some of the challenges currently facing our community and how the interaction with employers is on the brink of change.

Hosted by:

Evelyne Paradis and Anna Shepherd, ILGA Europe.

2. “ How inclusive and competitive is your city?”

Amsterdam has scored highest in the world on the new Open for Business report showing that LGBT+ inclusion is a key ingredient in urban economic resilience and competitiveness This breakout session, details their findings about the relationship between this quality and a city’s GDP per capita, innovation potential, ability to attract talent, and quality of life.

Hosted by:

Drew Keller and Kathryn Dovey, Open for Business

3. “From Advocacy to Action” – using the UN LGBTI Standards to build a more inclusive workplace

Hosted by:

Graham Sparks; Joyce Peirsman, Dow; and Pedro Kuijt Rumayor, Shell

4. “Will your company attract young talent in the future?” – Research on the future of LGBTI+ inclusion in the workplace by Young@Workplace Pride

In this session, we will report on the top three expectations of students and young professionals have for potential future employers based on conversations with three experience groups. Our Young team will propose both quick wins and structural solutions to improve LGBTI inclusion, taking into consideration actions that can be integrated into post-COVID integration planning.

Hosted by:

Ali Buck; Steven Kienhorst, IBM; Hannah Roan, Uber; Joost van der Sande, KLM.

Keynote speaker: Alan Jope, CEO Unilever, signs the Declaration of Amsterdam and shares his thoughts on how employers will address the LGBTI workplace in the coming decade.

Closing Discussions:

A conversation with a D&I HR representative about the situation on the ground
Introduction of new incoming Chairs, Bianca Nijhof and Michiel Kolman

17:00 – 17:30

Online networking opportunities in the Workplace Pride “Online Lobby”

REGISTER HERE

Note: If you have any problems accessing our online Symposium event then please email:
[email protected]

“I am a new me” Webinar

10 June 2020

For the eighth episode in our “Keeping Member Connected” live webinar series, the theme was Transgender issues and how they affect people in the workplace and life in general.

To speak about the challenges and struggles of being Transgender is something many people are probably uncomfortable with.

However, Sophie from ING and Max from Aegon spoke in candid detail about their life experiences and interactions at work both in the past and present. They also addressed how COVID-19 is affecting health care in the Netherlands and the knock-on effects within the Transgender community currently.

With a live online audience from twenty-two countries, we heard very honestly human stories and heard Sophie and Max express frankly what their colleagues at work could do a little better and in fact, that these issues reach across to allies and even other sections of the LGBTI community.

To watch the webinar: view here

AkzoNobel signs Declaration of Amsterdam

3 June 2020

Workplace Pride member AkzoNobel, has reaffirmed their commitment to LGBTI inclusion at work by signing the Declaration of Amsterdam. The Declaration is a 10 point action plan, created by the Foundation in 2011, which outlines the responsibilities of employers as well as employees to create work environments where LGBT people can truly be themselves.

The signing took place yesterday, June 2nd at the start of the Pride Month celebrations around the world. Given the ongoing challenges surrounding the global COVID-19 pandemic, AkzoNobel has created a unique way to honour the spirit of pride month by an initiative called “Pass the Pride”. By sharing videos and statements in a very structured and far-reaching way, the company wants to highlight how important this month has become for both LGBT employees and their allies.

Signing the Declaration on behalf of of AkzoNobel was their CEO Thierry Vanlancker, who pointed out how important it was that everyone could be themselves at the company. He was joined by David Pollard, Executive Director of Workplace Pride who said:

“We applaud this type of visible commitment for our community who, due to the very unusual circumstances that we are all living through, can become even more marginalised, alone and vulnerable. Support from the highest levels like this is a boost of confidence for all of us”.

Please join us and all members of Workplace Pride to congratulate AkzoNobel on the courage to take the step.