All employees should have the skills and awareness to understand their role in creating a workplace culture that includes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender colleagues. Accenture’s comprehensive suite of training helps ensure employees are both aware of their responsibilities and inspired to act as positive role models for all colleagues.
The training includes case studies, which encourage employees to analyse scenarios relating to issues relevant to the business, and cover areas such as challenging inappropriate behaviour. Subsequent questions ask employees to consider their impact in the context of their role and the business as a whole. This is followed up with points that summarise the issues uncovered and guide individuals to where they can go for further support.
Employees with recruitment responsibilities can increase their understanding of LGB&T issues with exercises that examine fairness in recruitment and how unconscious bias and first impressions can negatively impact the career progression of gay employees. Plain language guidance gives managers information on how they can best support gay and transgender employees, including advice on responding to colleagues who come out.
As part of Accenture’s programme to develop LGB&T role models, an in-house Stonewall Leadership Programme was commissioned. This programme inspired emerging LGB&T leaders to identify their talents, equipping them with the confidence to take an active role as change agents within the organisation. This was supported by Accenture’s leadership training which increased awareness of LGB&T issues amongst senior leaders, encouraging them to act as LGB&T allies and ambassadors for workplace equality.