5 Companies with Great LGBTQ Resource Groups was originally published on Firsthand.
In recent times, many companies have begun establishing their own, employee-run resource groups. These resource groups provide support for employees of various backgrounds, while allowing individuals to come together under common values and interests. Employee resource groups (ERGs) often offer programs or hold events that help to drive employee engagement, and ultimately mitigate employee turnover. Today we will be taking a look at some companies that have great LGBTQ resource groups.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a website building and hosting company based in New York City. It was founded by Anthony Casalena in the early 2000s and has grown exponentially since its humble beginnings. Squarespace is committed to fostering a positive workplace environment for underrepresented groups, such as the LGBTQ community. The company has established two ERGs for its LGBTQ associates and supporters; Queerspace and TransAt.
Queerspace and TransAt help support the LGBTQ community with a variety of educational events, fundraisers, and annual awareness days. Additionally, Squarespace offers gender-neutral restrooms and provides coverage for gender reassignment services as part of its comprehensive medical benefits package.
Boston Consulting Group
The Boston Consulting Group is one of the world’s largest management consulting firms. It was founded in 1963 and its corporate headquarters is located in Boston, Massachusetts (not just a clever name, eh?). Over twenty years ago, the Boston Consulting Group established Pride@BCG, its LGBTQ network, in order to create a workplace experience that is inclusive and comfortable for its LGBTQ employees.
Pride@BCG provides its members with many advantages, such as career-development support, mentorship programs, and networking events. The company supports the creation of a federal program for LGBTQ employees, and as such has joined the Business Coalition for the Equality Act, which aims to provide non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.
Bell Textron
Bell Textron is an aerospace manufacturer that was established in 1960. The company is based in Fort Worth, Texas. Bell Textron believes that a diverse workforce is the key to innovation, and is dedicated to supporting all of its employees. The company has established its LGBTQ resource group, FUSION, in order to foster a safe and comfortable workplace environment for its LGBTQ employees.
FUSION allows LGBTQ employees and their allies to plan educational events, discuss key topics, and conduct fundraisers. Each year during Pride Month, Bell Textron offers educational programs for those who are interested in supporting the LGBTQ community, and along with its Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Team works with charitable organizations such as LGBTQ S.A.V.E.S. and the AIDS Outreach Center of Tarrant County. The company is a member of the North Texas Coalition of LGBTQ ERGs.
CSAA Insurance Group
Founded in 1914, CSAA Insurance Group provides various insurance products such as automobile insurance and homeowners insurance. The company’s corporate headquarters is located in Walnut Creek, California. CSAA is committed to creating a workplace culture that is inclusive, and that allows employees to bring their authentic selves to work.
CSAA has its own LGBTQ employee resource group, known as PRIDE. Along with PRIDE, CSAA provides its LGBTQ employees with health insurance coverage to employees’ same-sex domestic partners, as well as diversity training programs to help raise awareness and create new LGTBQ allies in the workplace. The company includes “sexual orientation” in its non-discrimination policy, and has added resources for employees who are undergoing gender transition.
Chegg
Chegg is an educational technology company that was founded in 2005. Its corporate headquarters is located in Santa Clara, California. Chegg believes that in order to provide its students with the best possible educational tools, it must offer diverse perspectives and support inclusiveness. As such, the company has established its Pride Employee Resource Group.
The Pride Employee Resource Group offers a variety of resources, such as educational workshops and speaker series. The company hopes to educate is associates on the nuances of pronouns, and the difference between sex and gender. In an effort to raise awareness of such issues, Chegg has updated its companywide communication technology to display its employees’ pronouns in order to normalize their use and support its employees’ identities.
Keep in mind that this list is not in any particular order, and that there are many other companies out there that offer extensive LGBTQ ERGs. Happily, most companies have dedicated pages on their websites that provide information about their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as well as what types of ERGs they offer. With remote work becoming more widespread, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a great company that provides LGBTQ ERGs.
