Companies in India are openly allying with the LGBT cause & encouraging staff to speak up about their identity.
Indian companies, especially multinational corporations (MNCs), have gone from being tacit supporters of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) rights to openly allying with the cause. This comes almost one year after the Supreme Court decriminalised homosexuality.
Coverage for same-sex partners under medical insurance and LGBT employee networks have been around for some time, but companies are now encouraging employees to speak openly about their identity.
LGBT employees at Accenture can share their journeys on a virtual platform, and even answer questions from ‘allies’ – non-LGBT people who support the cause.
IBM’s LGBT employees have put up video blogs on YouTube about their experiences. The company is also hosting a pride walk at its Gurugram campus later this year, where its employees, those from other organisations and the LGBT community at large can participate.
SAP Labs, too, is hosting a pride march on its campus.
Many of IBM’s employees had “come out” (openly identified themselves as LGBT) at work, even though they couldn’t to their families and community, said Prachi Rastogi, diversity and inclusion leader, IBM India.
Source: Economic Times
