2008 Woodie Awards
Supporting GLBT in the workplace
Meredith Clinton
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: News
The Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) and Career Center held an informal information session on Tues., Jan. 29 at the Multicultural Center having to do with being 'out' at work. During this session students had the opportunity to speak with and listen to Tracy Denton, Global IT at Air Products. The goal of her visit was to allow students to discuss any fears that they may have about being a gay or lesbian employee after graduating from college, and how they can begin that search or at least begin thinking about it, now.
Some specific topics that were discussed included: how to choose a Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual-Transgender (GLBT) friendly company, if and when you should come out at work, how to come out at work, should you come out during an interview, introduction to organizations focused on GLBT issues in the workplace, network and job search strategies, and employee network groups.
The discussion began with Denton asking the students what some of their fears were about being gay and entering the workplace. Denton shared her own story of coming out at her company, which did not happen right away.
She found herself being afraid of people not wanting to work for her or with her if they were ever to find out that she was gay; however, once she did decide to 'come out', she explained that she felt much more comfortable amongst her co-workers and encourages all people to try and find the courage to come out at their workplace.
A few ways that Denton suggested trying to come out to someone that is looking to hire you is to ask specific questions that either directly pertain to the subject, such as whether or not the company has domestic partner benefits, or something less direct, like if the company has diversity network groups for its employees. This may help indicate to you where the company stands morally.
Denton also spoke to allies that were in attendance. She said that they too can ask questions such as the ones above to see if the company they are looking into shares the same views as them. A few websites that Denton recommended to the group to find more information on these topics were: www.outforwork.com, www.candidatefive.com, www.hrc.org, and www.outandequal.org.
This semester was the third in which the Career Center has put together an event like this, and would like to continue to do so as long as they get a positive response from students. They feel it is their responsibility to supply this kind of information to the College's students so that they can have more access to supportive GLBT resources.
Some specific topics that were discussed included: how to choose a Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual-Transgender (GLBT) friendly company, if and when you should come out at work, how to come out at work, should you come out during an interview, introduction to organizations focused on GLBT issues in the workplace, network and job search strategies, and employee network groups.
The discussion began with Denton asking the students what some of their fears were about being gay and entering the workplace. Denton shared her own story of coming out at her company, which did not happen right away.
She found herself being afraid of people not wanting to work for her or with her if they were ever to find out that she was gay; however, once she did decide to 'come out', she explained that she felt much more comfortable amongst her co-workers and encourages all people to try and find the courage to come out at their workplace.
A few ways that Denton suggested trying to come out to someone that is looking to hire you is to ask specific questions that either directly pertain to the subject, such as whether or not the company has domestic partner benefits, or something less direct, like if the company has diversity network groups for its employees. This may help indicate to you where the company stands morally.
Denton also spoke to allies that were in attendance. She said that they too can ask questions such as the ones above to see if the company they are looking into shares the same views as them. A few websites that Denton recommended to the group to find more information on these topics were: www.outforwork.com, www.candidatefive.com, www.hrc.org, and www.outandequal.org.
This semester was the third in which the Career Center has put together an event like this, and would like to continue to do so as long as they get a positive response from students. They feel it is their responsibility to supply this kind of information to the College's students so that they can have more access to supportive GLBT resources.