What is a Gender Inclusive Workplace?
A gender inclusive workplace is one that includes all genders in thought, design, policies, and every other aspect of the workplace. This means that the company will be thoughtful of all genders, such as cisgender, male, female, transgender, nonbinary, bigender, agender, and all other genders that aren’t listed. The workplace wants to make sure that all voices are heard and that the language and practices are inclusive to all.
This type of workplace wants to remove any barriers and wants to assure that everyone gets be seen and respected. There are companies such as the Gild Collective that can help make this happen in your workplace. They want to make the world a better place, one workplace at a time.
This article will share what the Gild Collective and other companies feel that a gender inclusive workplace looks like and what it includes. This can include things that are interpersonal, organizational, and environmental. You want to make sure that all your workforce feels that this is the place for them to work.
Some Gender Inclusive Actions
Interpersonal – this can include introducing your pronouns as a practice that is standard and being aware of biases related to gender and how they can affect those interactions with other people. It also includes creating different learning environments for all your teams.
Environmental – you want to have clear directions to gender neutral restrooms and install trash receptacles in all restrooms for feminine hygiene products. This also means that you will want changing tables in all restrooms. You will also want to have images and resources that show the diversity of your staff and your clients.
Organizational – You need health insurance that supports transgender care, mental health, and reproductive health. You can find some ideas of health insurance that supports transgender care here: https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/update-on-medicaid-coverage-of-gender-affirming-health-services/. You will also need to have anti-harassment policies to show that you won’t tolerate any kind of harassment towards your workers or clients. The handbook language and the company culture should also reflect how inclusive your company is.
Steps You Can Take
- Make a Commitment to Gender Inclusivity
You want to begin your gender inclusivity with the hiring process – you want to write gender inclusive job descriptions that don’t unconsciously show biases against any gender. You will also need to build a gender diverse group of candidates that shows that you truly do value all genders.
- Be Aware of Gendered Language and Practices
Make sure that internal messages, newsletters, and marketing materials are gender inclusive and don’t show gender biases. Don’t use words that can have negative gender connotations such as “chatty” or “aggressive.” See here for more information about gender inclusive language. All employees should also be educated about gender-inclusive language.
- Make Pronoun Sharing the Standard
Normalizing the sharing of pronouns should be the standard in the company and this can be done in a variety of ways. It can be done when verbally introducing yourself and others by adding their pronouns. It can also be done by adding a line in email signatures that allow for pronoun sharing, as well as adding pronouns to name badges and nameplates.
- Back Up Your Commitment to Gender Inclusive Culture with Inclusive Facilities
As was mentioned above, make sure that you have at least one restroom that is gender neutral and that there are receptacles for feminine hygiene products in all bathrooms. You will also need to provide places for lactating and nursing parents. By having a room or area that is specifically for this need, you show that you care about the people who will use it.
- Enhance Diverse Voices
Encourage people of all genders to cooperate with one another and work together on projects. This gives gender diverse individuals a platform that will allow them to help drive equality and equity and helps everyone to get a new perspective and insights into the company. It also allows the next generation to get in touch with their peers and leaders.
- Gender Inclusive Dress Code
You also want to have a gender inclusive dress code that doesn’t require all people who present as women to wear dresses and those who present as men to wear slacks and ties. You want to be more open with the dress code and allow individuals to dress as professionals and not as men and women. This way you include all genders and all dress styles that are professional.
Conclusion
It is time in America to be more gender inclusive, not only in the workplace, but everywhere. You, as a business owner, can help this happen by making sure that your company is gender inclusive. You don’t just want to say that you are inclusive, you want to show it by making changes in the workplace that show you are inclusive. This means gender neutral restrooms, language, and giving voices to those who have not felt included in the past. You want to be gender inclusive from the beginning with your hiring process and clear through to your everyday processes at work.
