Working with Pride

Working with Pride promotes creating equal work cultures that appreciate diversity.

Organizations have a responsibility to promote equal treatment and equality every day of the year. Changing organizational culture requires long term commitment - it is not enough, that LGBTQIA+ are taken into account one day a year. Companies need to take concrete actions and create operating models so that every LGBTQIA+ person can be themselves at work, without fear of discrimination.

Knowledge increases appreciation for diversity

At the centre of change is gaining knowledge and updating it. The more a person knows, the more emphatic they become and knowledge also adds to understanding between different groups. Often prejudice is based on lack of knowledge on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people in work-life and in society in general.

The Helsinki Pride Working with Pride partner network facilitates increased knowledge in companies and between them.

Our training on LGBTQIA+ inclusive work-life focuses on improving equality and equal treatment in places of work from a LGBTQIA+ specific angle. In the training we get to know LGBTQIA+ vocabulary and give organizations concrete examples of inclusive practices and models of operating.

LGBTQIA+ inclusivity requires concrete actions

Good practices are crucial, because knowledge of protection against discrimination granted by the law on equal treatment and equality doesn’t guarantee inclusive organizational cultures. Diversity should be seen as an asset. Working with colleagues from different backgrounds adds to innovation and creative ideas.

Advancing diversity from a LGBTQIA+ point of view also requires concrete actions from employers. Do your forms and other materials use gendering language? Have you taken rainbow families into account in your family benefits? Does your employee information system allow “other” as a choice for gender? It is important to take diversity into account in all practices and models of operation of the organization.

We call for year-round commitment to equality and equal treatment.

10 steps to advancing equality and equal treatment in work communities

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1
Equity

Make sure that all of your organization’s practices and employee benefits are equal and inclusive. A company should have a clear protocol on preventing and dealing with discrimination and harassment, that takes sexual and gender minorities into account.

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2
Be inclusive

Communicate the importance of LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and integrate it into your company’s values. Your employees should know  that diversity is appreciated and that there is a zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment.

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Pay attention to diversity

Take the diversity of sexuality and gender expression into account in all your materials, forms and communication. Avoid gendering language.

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Network

Offer possibilities of networking for LGBTQIA+ employees and allies. Peer support is an important factor in the well-being of a work community and it promotes the cooperation of employees from different backgrounds.

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Be serious about equal treatment

Name an Equal Treatment and Equality representative. Remind your employees that everyone is still responsible for creating and maintaining an inclusive work environment.

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Assess

Assess how equality and equal treatment have actualized in your company. Anonymous questionnaires give important feedback on the work environment and its practices.

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Offer training

Offer your employees training on LGBTQIA+ and diversity. Gaining knowledge is a crucial part of developing an equal work culture.

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Co-operate

Co-operate with LGBTQIA+ NGOs. By supporting NGOs you advance the rights of sexual and gender minorities both in the workplace and society.

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Be consistent

Be consistent and take sexual and gender diversity into account in your everyday work. It is important to take part in LGBTQIA+ events, but advancing equal treatment and equality takes year round commitment.

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Notice discrimination

Notice discrimination based on multiple traits – many individuals can be in multiple marginal groups at the same time and be discriminated against for different reasons. Companies should acquire knowledge on minorities within sexual and gender minorities.

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Our partners are involved in our work to advance equal treatment and equality, make Helsinki Pride happen and support our year-round work to promote human rights. Join our amazing team!
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Training

Helsinki Pride experts offer a wide range of training on sexual orientation and gender diversity for different groups.
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Working with Pride partner network in 2023

Main Partners

Working with Pride partners 2023