London Workplace Conference 2022 Programme

This year’s workplace conference, taking place on 25 March 2022, will bring us together to learn, heal and grow from the challenges that we’ve faced and will continue to face.

At the core of creating a more equal workplace is the belief that when people feel good at work and outside of it, they thrive. This programme will support us to consider how we put wellbeing at the heart of our work, not just for those we work to include but for ourselves too.  

You’ll hear from a range of speakers, inclusion experts and one another in interactive and engaging workshops. This programme has been curated using insights from our workplace team and the organisations we work with. It will enable you to design a day that supports the challenges you face and the opportunities you see in your organisation.

How to use this programme

All delegates have the opportunity to attend our inspiring opening and closing sessions. You’ll then be able to select from a range of engaging workshops to tailor a day to your interests.  

There are two types of workshop available, meaning you’ll have the opportunity to learn from a range of organisations as well as other delegates. Workshops taking place in Session A and Session C are designed by Stonewall inclusion experts, they feature speakers from leading Diversity Champion organisations. Workshops in Session B are designed and delivered by other specialist Stonewall teams and partner organisations.  

If you join us in person, you can choose from all sessions on offer. If you join us online you can select from content marked ‘available online’, as well as the opening and closing sessions.  

Programme Deep Dive

Workshops A and C

Wellbeing at work: Taking Action on mental health

Available online 

We all know that LGBTQ+ people experience disproportionately poor mental health and wellbeing. And that this impacts our working lives. But do we know why? And how should we tackle that at work? This session will dive deeper into our overall theme to explore some of the causes of poor mental health in the community. We’ll also look practically at how you can create succesful initiatives to promote positive wellbeing and support good mental health in your organisation.  

• Understand more about experiences of mental health among the LGBTQ+ community 
• Discuss how to overcome challenges surrounding mental health issues and the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Identify practical steps organisations can take to support the mental wellbeing of LGBTQ+ staff 

Leadership: Driving effective change

Not available online 

Leaders play a critical role in driving LGBTQ+ inclusion forward. They set the tone to ensure LGBTQ+ people feel safe, welcome and included in a workplace. This session will bring together leaders and those looking to support their leadership teams to learn and share with one another. We’ll explore how to facilitate authentic connections between LGBTQ+ people and leadership teams that allow people to talk safely and openly about challenges and opportunities in an organisation.   

• Understand the role senior leaders play in creating inclusive environments that prioritise wellbeing 
• Explore the challenges leaders and those supporting them to champion inclusion face 
• Discuss effective ways to ensure that leaders committed to equality can make real change 

Network groups: Supporting the whole community

Available online 

The best LGBTQ+ network groups provide advice, support and advocacy for all members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. They provide a crucial space of safety for LGBTQ+ people and have enormous wellbeing benefits. However, many networks have work to do to ensure they engage and represent more marginalised members of our community and provide a truly inclusive space. In this session we’ll explore how to ensure that the crucial support and advocacy you provide is reflective of the diversity of our community.  

• Understand more about how to ensure you are advocating for and supporting all members of the LGBTQ+ community 
• Gain insight into the best practice approach to creating a truly inclusive LGBTQ+ network group 
• Explore how to partner with other network groups and external organisations in order to better reflect the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community 

Trans Inclusion: Engaging all staff

Available online 

We know that in society and in the workplace the trans community face significant challenges. To create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces for the trans community it’s important that you can engage people across your organisation in your trans inclusion work. In this session we’ll explore different approaches that organisations have taken and support you to consider what would work best for you.  

• Understand more about some of the challenges that negatively impact trans people’s wellbeing at work 
• Discuss how to engage people across your organisation in trans inclusion work 
• Explore tools and methods that you can use to creatively engage all staff in becoming active allies  

Inclusion for all: Working across dispersed locations 

Available online 

It’s often a challenge to engage people in LGBTQ+ inclusion work across multiple sites, job functions and even nations. LGBTQ+ inclusion programmes that work across an entire organisation but are tailored to include different circumstances and locations can address the disparities faced by some staff. In this session we’ll hear from organisations who have creatively navigated these challenges, including those who’ve adapted to working remotely in the past two years.  

• Develop an understanding of how LGBTQ+ inclusion work can represents staff across different locations  
• Discuss how to use your resources to address your organisational priorities in LGBTQ+ inclusion across all roles and locations 
• Explore creative ways to implement support structures for all staff, including those who are harder to reach through traditional methods 

Workshop B

Intersectional Practice: How we make the workplace more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people of colour

Designed and delivered by Chloe Cousins | She/Her | Strategic Lead - Rainbow Noir, Co-Director - Colours Youth Network

Not available online 

Most of us have heard the term ‘intersectionality’ but what does it mean when supporting LGBTQ+ staff of colour? In this discussion-based workshop we will lean into reflection and action to explore how we can create spaces where LGBTQ+ people of colour feel seen, heard and cared for at work.

• Gain an insight into experiences of LGBTQ+ people and communities of colour
• Reflect on what intersectionality means in practice and its importance within this area of work
• Think about changes within the workplace that can be implemented to create more inclusive work culture

What does it Take to Bring our Whole Selves to Work?

Designed and delivered by Esi Hardy | she/her | Celebrating Disability | and Daniele Lul | he/him | Parapride 

Not available online 

Many of us have many conversations around what it means to bring our whole self to work and to have a sense of belonging in the workplace.  Have we really considered what this means at the core? 

As a user lead charity for LGBTQ disabled people, Parapride have partnered with Celebrating Disability to explore what it truly means for members of our community to feel able and psychologically safe to bring their whole self to work. We will be leading a discussion based session and asking pertinent questions such as:

What do we need from our colleagues, peers and managers to feel psychologically safe to bring a whole selves to work? And therefore, what can companies and organisations be doing to create such an environment?

Informed by their lived experience of disability, experiences of the LGBTQ disabled community and professional business experiences, Dani and Esi look forward to meeting you for a rich and informative discussion.

Wellbeing among the Bi Community

Designed and delivered by Yeme Onoabhagbe | she/her | Head of Volunteer Management | Bi Pride

Not available online 

We understand that bi people experience disproportionately poor mental health outcomes. There are some common challenges and experiences among the community that can contribute to wellbeing challenges, and being more aware of these will support you to ensure that your LGBTQ+ inclusion work effectively supports bi people. In this interactive session, designed by Bi Pride’s Yeme Onoabhagbe, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and share best practice in supporting bi people to achieve their potential.

• Develop your understanding of the bi community and the diversity of identities within it
• Explore some of the common challenges facing bi people in the workplace
• Discuss how you can ensure that your work is more inclusive of bi people and supports good wellbeing

Young Futures: Recruiting and supporting young LGBTQ+ people into the workplace

Available online 

Stonewall’s Shut Out Report indicates that there remains a distinct lack of understanding about the experiences of young LGBTQ+ people who are not currently in education, training or work. However, getting inclusion right for this part of the LGBTQ+ community has huge benefits for your workplace. Our experts on the Stonewall Young Futures project will support you to explore these experiences and learn more on how you can raise awareness of opportunities and support LGBTQ+ young talent to enter the world of work.  

• Learn more about the experiences of young LGBTQ+ not currently in education, training or work  
• Explore the steps you can take to ensure your roles are attractive and inclusive to young LGBTQ+ people  
• Share ideas on how the tools you can use to overcome some of the barriers to accessing employment faced by young LGBTQ+ people, including the Stonewall Young Futures platform 

Working Globally: Tailoring Wellbeing Support

Available online 

Wellbeing support is always contextual and a key challenge for global organisations is now to provide high quality support that meets everyone's needs. It's especialy important that support is reactive to the impact of external factors such as legislative change or rising LGBTQ+ hate crimes in many locations. This session will provide insights and opportunities for you to explore what you can offer, adapt or tailor within your global workplace to meet the unique needs of your LGBTQ+ workforce. 

• Hear from civil society organisations on the changing needs of LGBTQ+ collegues, especially those arising from external factors 
• Explore how global workforces have tailored their wellbeing support offer via Employee Resource Groups or formal wellbeing initiatives. 
• Discuss how to adapt and enhance your LGBTQ+ support in a global workplace 

⬅️ Return to London Workplace Conference main page.