At Scotiabank, our most important investment is the one we make in our people. We are committed to becoming the Bank of choice for the diverse communities we serve, and we strive to advance an inclusive culture where every employee is enabled to reach their fullest potential, thrive and belong.
There are many ways in which Scotiabank can advance an inclusive culture such as through employee resource groups, renewing our diversity and inclusion goals or other internal training and programs, but possibly one of the most important ways is by educating each other on how to be an active and effective ally in the workplace.
First, let’s cover what it means to be an ally.
On a very basic level, being an ally means that you have someone’s back. You may find yourselves acting together, supporting each other, or even protecting one another. An ally is someone who actively promotes and aspires to advocate for others that feel their voice may not be heard.
As it relates to supporting the LGBT+ community in the workplace, being an ally is important in advancing a culture of inclusion and belonging through intentional, positive and conscious efforts to support your colleagues and counter the discrimination they may face. Everyone can be an ally as privilege is intersectional. For example, white women can be active allies to People of Colour, men can be allies to women, cisgender people can be allies to people who are trans, able-bodied people can be allies to people with disabilities, or economically privileged people can be allies to those who are not, and so on. Being an ally means using your voice, knowledge, or place of power to show up for others in a meaningful way.
How does allyship support employees of the LGBT+ communities to reach their fullest potential, thrive, and belong?
Being an ally demonstrates that you want to play an active role in advancing diverse and inclusive culture, and that you advocate for the inclusion of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, or gender expression.
The LGBT+ community often experiences discrimination and othering and may feel that they must hide their authentic selves, especially at work. Being an active ally in the workplace can provide a safe and inclusive place for members of the LGBT+ community to be comfortable and willing to bring their whole selves to work. It is essential that together, we do all we can to create an environment where our peers know that we support them and that they belong to help them reach their fullest potential and be their authentic selves!
There are many ways in which we can be an ally, but we wanted to point out 5 ways in which you can start to be an active and effective ally in the workplace
1. Educate yourself about diversity, inclusion and belonging. This may seem like a no-brainer or easy task but having the willingness to learn and to actively seek to understand differences among our colleagues is something that should be done on a consistent basis. The more you know, the more you can connect with others and be an even better ally!
2. Actively supporting your colleagues. Constantly having to stand up for yourself can be hard, tiring and uncomfortable. Being an ally in these situations can be effective as your peers now have someone else advocating for them and creating a better environment. If you have a colleague who uses gender-neutral pronouns, one way to support them is to ensure that others are referring to them using their – correct pronouns. This provides a great example for your team members to follow.
3. Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask uncomfortable questions and to be confronted with your own potential bias. When asking for help, sometimes the best thing you can do is listen. The ability to listen without judgement can provide an outlet for others to share their personal experiences and in return help you better understand their individual needs.
4. Be visible. If you bring your whole self to work, it may inspire others to do the same. The more you can advocate for the safe space you are in, the more it may help others!
5. Demonstrate leadership. Ask yourself questions such as “How can I make an impact today?” Being the first to complete your diversity, inclusion and belonging training and sharing your personal learnings with your team demonstrates that you are interested and curious! This may help others feel comfortable in sharing their stories, offer advice or contribute to the conversation.
Being an ally can create affirming spaces in your work environment. Take the opportunity today to advance a diverse and inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.
Read more on how Scotiabank is supporting LGBT+ candidates and employees through our LGBT+ Communities Talent Program.
