As the world celebrates Pride month, it is important to note that discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community still exists—and many corporate workplaces in the Southeast Asian region are no exception.
In these workplaces, employees are still categorized according to their birth sex and not by their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). This limits employees who belong in the LGBTQIA+ spectrum to perform at their best, simply because they are forced to hide their authentic selves at work in order to conform.
On the bright side, there are companies in the region that are trailblazing in promoting diversity and inclusion by instilling a culture of respect and acceptance within their organizations.
“Apart from lending an ear, letting them know that they have a voice is vital in terms of helping them grow professionally and personally. This will also establish a safe and mentally healthy environment for your employees,” says Victoria Alcachupas, Vice President of Business Development, People Branding, Marketing, and Communications at TaskUs, in an article published on Asia’s leading tech and startups media platform e27. The article reports about how some companies in the region are ensuring that their LGBTQIA+ employees can feel safe and supported at work.
Some of TaskUs’s progressive programs and policies in the Philippines that support their LGBTQIA+ employees include providing healthcare benefits to LGBTQIA+ partners, encouraging the use of preferred pronouns in both formal and informal settings, introducing gender-inclusive restrooms and sleeping quarters, and creating an employee resource group that is focused on supporting their queer employees, among others.
Read more from the e27 article: Building the rainbow bridge: How businesses can foster Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace
