Being Open in the workplace 🏳️‍🌈

As Pride month comes to an end it’s a good time to reflect on how LGBTQIA+ rights and acceptance has evolved and how lucky we are to be living within the community today.

On the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Inn riots, it’s understandable why my parents were concerned for me when I came out. Much of what they had seen, heard and witnessed in the press and society was around the AIDS epidemics, de-criminalisation, discrimination and marginalisation. In a way I’m extremely pleased things have evolved, it has allowed my parents to see that it’s not all bad and that life with rainbows and glitter can be fabulous.

It does still, however, come with its challenges. Although I’ve never felt discriminated against, or treated differently at work for being gay, I recognise that I have in the past suppressed things and very much kept my personal life separate to work. As a result, I’ve ultimately not been my true self in the workplace and lived a slightly double life.

For the first 3 years of my career, nobody I worked with knew I was gay until the day I left (or at least I hadn’t told them!). I’d lived a lie to some very dear friends in fear of how I would be perceived by them, and scared it would be a detriment to my career. It may have all been in my head, it probably was, but I was unsure how people would take it and I didn’t want to jeopardise my career progression.

The next company I worked for was a multinational which naturally had a diverse workforce. My boss’ boss was gay, as was his boss and so was one of my reports. It was the first time I could be a truer version of myself. We didn’t all outwardly show it every day, well apart from my boss’ boss who had a framed Kylie picture hung in his office, but it was finally “safe” to talk all things queer. However, to those I still didn’t know well in the company I would still always use the term “partner” or “other half” when referring to my boyfriend.

Over the past two decades, I can’t thank everyone enough who has participated in the LGBT and equality movements and all the amazing progress they’ve made in changing perceptions across societies globally. This evolution has ultimately made me feel safer, more secure in my sexuality and open to tell people who I really am. I now head up a team of 50 people at Treatwell all of who know I have an amazing fiancé (yes a man), who also jump at the first opportunity to talk to me about Drag Race and don’t judge me for religiously watching Love Island. I love the fact that I work in an organisation where I can say boyfriend without fear and am asked when he’s coming to see us. For the first time ever I feel accepted and strangely get a glowing feeling because I am a bit different.

Although I’m not one to shout from the rooftops about my sexuality, as a leader I realised the importance of ensuring that the LGBTIQA+ community was represented within the company, and last year threw our first ever Pride Party in the UK office. Why did I do it? Because I didn’t want anyone in the organisation to feel like I had in my earlier career. One of our company values is to be “open” and I just wanted to allow everyone to have an opportunity to be truly open. Whether you’re part of the LGBTIQA+ community or not, out, or not, or an ally, I wanted everyone to have an evening of letting their hair down and celebrating camp.

Inaugural Treatwell Pride Party in the UK office

Today we’re going to be throwing the 2nd Treatwell Pride Party in our UK office and I’m super excited to see how it’s evolved already. This year we’ve got an external guest, Shay Shay, coming in to talk to everyone about the art of drag, gender identity and trans issues. I hope what I established a year ago continues to be a tradition at Treatwell for years to come, giving everyone the excuse to glam up, throw on some glitter and celebrate diversity.

As a minority, I’ve appreciated the value of diversity and therefore actively encourage hiring people from all walks of life and backgrounds. We all have a different story and bringing those life experiences, values, beliefs and characteristics together can help you build a team ready to tackle anything or anyone.

Love is love and diversity is key. Be true to yourself and don’t be afraid of being different, because you being you can add a great new dimension to any team.

Happy Pride month! 🏳️‍🌈