5 Ways To Be Gender-Inclusive In The Workplace (With Examples)
As we wrap up Pride month, this is a great opportunity to consider how you can be inclusive not just in June, but year round. Respecting people’s gender identity is a simple and easy way to show your inclusivity and be more welcoming in the workplace. Here’s how.
1. Email
Adding your pronouns to your email signature is a super simple and passive way to show your inclusivity. Here is an example:
Nadia Ibrahim-Taney, MA. M.Ed.
she, her, hers
Assistant Professor | Information Technology
2. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is now giving users the opportunity to add pronouns to your profile. Currently, the options include: “she/her,” “he/him,” “they/them,” and “custom.” To access your pronoun field, navigate to the pen icon under the bottom-right corner of the background image.
Under the “Pronouns” section, click on the drop-down menu and choose your pronouns. Under “Visible to,” choose “Your Network,” “Your Connections,” or “All LinkedIn Members.” Then click save and you’re done! Here is an example:
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3. Zoom
As more organizations are moving to virtual first or putting more focus on hybrid meetings, having an inclusive background or pronouns in your Zoom profile can communicate your allyship to those you are meeting with.
To change your background on Zoom,
Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
In the navigation menu, click Settings.
In the Meeting tab, navigate to the Virtual Background option (under the In Meeting (Advanced) section) and verify that the setting is enabled.
If the setting is disabled, click the status toggle to enable it. If a verification dialog displays, choose Turn On to verify the change.
If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at either the group or account level, and you will need to contact your Zoom administrator.
To add pronouns to your name,
Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
In the navigation panel, click Profile.
On the right side of your name, click Edit.
In the Pronouns field, enter your pronouns.
In the How would you like to share your pronouns? drop-down field, choose how you want your pronouns shared.
Click Save.
4. When You Meet Someone
Simply stating your own pronouns when meeting someone for the first time is a very welcoming way to encourage the person you’re meeting to do the same. It can be simple, straightforward and easy to incorporate into your greeting.
Here’s an example:
“Hi, Coach Nadia here, my pronouns are she/hers and I’m so happy to be joining the call today. Thank you for having me”.
5. Using Inclusive Language When You Don’t Know How Someone Identifies
As a university professor, I have a lot of students… like hundreds of students. Many of which I only communicate with over email or instant messaging. I generally use the “they” pronoun when talking to a new student or when referring to a student when I don’t know their pronouns.
Using general, non-binary inclusive language is a super simple method that doesn’t impact the clarity or professionalism of my communication but may make a huge difference to someone who is continuously misgendered in the workplace.
Final Thoughts…
As an LGBTQ+ person and career coach, my biggest piece of advice I can give you is to be humble. Understand that you won’t know everything as it relates to diversity as individuals are just that- individual! So how one person identifies and navigates the world might be completely different to someone else.
So be genuinely curious, ask, be kind, stay humble and thank folks for sharing their identity with you. It’s the little things that add up to create our larger professional brand so make sure you are walking the walk of inclusion, not just talking about it one month a year.
Related:
Purchasing Products With Pride: All You Need To Know About Rainbow Capitalism
Pride Series: How To Show Your Diversity and Inclusion When Applying To Jobs
Pride Series: 5 Ways To Authentically Demonstrate Inclusivity During Job Interviews
Meet The Writer!
Hi! My name is Nadia Ibrahim-Taney and I help people design happy and fulfilling careers through authentic career coaching. My expertise includes career exploration guidance, resume writing, interview prep and LinkedIn profile optimization. My pronouns are She/ Her/ Hers and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I focus on how diverse identities impact and influence folks holistically and professionally. Please connect with me on LinkedIn or at Nadia@beyonddiscoverycoaching.com
