So, what does it look like to be your authentic self in the workplace? To Paul, it’s reflected in everything from the way people dress and communicate to the flexible working styles and less hierarchical structure.
“Our leaders genuinely get it,” Paul said. “They get the value of diversity and inclusion intrinsically and can speak to it with a depth and fluency that has been pleasantly surprising.”
Working in a Safe Zone
Paul mentioned how lucky and fortunate he is to lead PRIDE Alliance full-time because of the tangible daily impact on colleagues and patients. One of the recent successes was launching our Safe Zone trainings, which gave BMS colleagues access to powerful, effective LGBTQ+ awareness and ally training workshops. Walk around any of our global offices, and you’ll see plenty of Safe Zone Trained stickers proudly posted.
In addition to ongoing industry awareness, the powerful key priorities listed here guide PRIDE Alliance at every level.
Covering and Inclusion
LGBTQ+ workers in STEM fields experience significant devaluation, higher stress, less social connections with their peers, and even physical health consequences. A lot of this comes from "covering" or hiding their true selves. At BMS, we’re focused on enabling all colleagues, not just LGBTQ+, to bring their authentic selves to the workplace and fully engage.
“This is not just for LGBTQ+ colleagues, but for anyone who feels the need to cover anything,” Paul said. “Maybe a father or a mother has parental obligations they don't talk about because they don't want to be perceived as less committed. There are so many things that people cover up.”
