Accepting diversity in the workplace.

By Nick Holmes

When thinking about diversity, one might think of how everyone comes from a different background, culture, ethnicity, gender, has had different experiences in their lives, etc. However, one’s sexual orientation is something often taken for granted when talking about diversity. Often, people talk about the differences between men and women in the workplace, but issues with LGBT community members aren’t talked about often.

Many people in our everyday lives consider themselves a part of the LGBT community. Luckily, modern businesses are taking note and ensuring that their organizations are accepting and supportive of anyone, no matter how they define themselves. Ernst & Young was the first of the “big four” accounting firms to be certified by the Human Rights Campaign. One of their internal mottos for accepting this community is “making LGBTA inclusiveness real every day.”

Ernst & Young created “People Resource Networks” for their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and their allies (LGBTA) to establish a “gender identity/expression” category within their antidiscrimination policy. The accounting firm believes in the value of fostering an “open and inclusive office environment.”

Ernst & Young is one of many companies striving to promote diversity in the workplace. They understand that not everyone is the same and that their employees need to feel as if they can be themselves at work, without worrying about what their supervisor might say if they found out too many details of their personal lives. Organizations like this are promoting equality among their members, without forcing everyone to “conform” and accepting that we are a very diverse species.