By Stephen Streiffer, Associate Laboratory Director, Photon Sciences
Pride month is a good time to reflect on how we can make Argonne an inclusive and supportive workplace for employees who are members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allies (LGBTQA+) community.
The transgender community in particular has been the focus of much public attention in recent months. Indeed, Argonne employees were reminded in a recent informational memo about the Federal and Laboratory Policy on Nondiscrimination against Transgender People, Including Restroom Use.
However, it’s also important to remember we are not talking only about policy, but we are talking about people — our co-workers. Transgender people work in all industries and professions — including here at Argonne — and they deserve a safe and inclusive workplace just like all other employees.
All of us, managers and staff, have a responsibility to create a safe and inclusive workplace environment where everyone can focus on performing great work. One of the ways we can do that is to remember all of our coworkers’ personal lives are private, and we should respect that privacy.
Everyone at the laboratory should be treated with respect regardless of their gender identity or gender expression. Employees also should be aware of the distinction between their personal values and the community values of the workplace. Employees are entitled to their personal, political or religious opinions about gender identity; however, the expression of those opinions in manners that create a hostile environment for any employee is prohibited by our policies. Employees must uphold the common values of the workplace, which means treating everyone with dignity and respect. The Transgender Law Center has a helpful brochure that outlines these and other ways to respectfully work with transgender coworkers.
A study from the nonprofit organization Catalyst shows employees who experience EACH — empowerment, accountability, courage, humility — from their managers report feeling more psychologically safe. The more “psychologically safe” employees felt, the more included they felt in their workgroups. This in turn can enhance innovation.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation reports employee engagement suffers by up to 30 percent due to unwelcoming environments. When asked about their experiences with negative workplace environments and/or feeling compelled to be closeted LGBTQ workers reported the following:
- 9% avoid working on a certain project.
- 14% had to lie about the reason to take off work in order to care for their partner, child or other family member.
- 15% stayed home from work.
- 17% avoided working with certain clients or customers.
- 20% felt exhausted from spending time and energy hiding their personal identity.
- 30% felt distracted from work.
These statistics show why it’s imperative for all of us to create an inclusive, safe and positive environment where all employees can maximize their contributions to Argonne’s mission and have an equal opportunity to grow and thrive.
Argonne is an institution that values the pursuit of knowledge. It’s important to remember education and understanding also are key to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace for all.