Diversity Management in Companies with a Focus on LGBTIQ*
Diversity Management
Corporate diversity management views the demographic and cultural diversity of the workforce as an opportunity in a changing world of work. This benefits everyone: both companies and employees.
Company
Are you in charge of human resources at a company, looking for skilled workers or young talent, and want to tap into the full potential of the job market? Are productive collaboration and satisfied employees important to you?
Diversity
People differ in terms of their background and culture, age, gender, religious beliefs, and worldviews, as well as their physical and mental abilities. Sexual and gender identity also represent a dimension of diversity.
An estimated 1.3 million LGBTIQ* people live and work in North Rhine-Westphalia. Many of them are highly qualified and motivated—yet they often face resistance in the workplace. Many LGBTIQ* employees still feel today that they must conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity because they fear or have already experienced disadvantages in the workplace. Yet it has been proven that employees who can work in an open and accepting environment are more productive.
Diversity Management with a Focus on LGBTIQ*
Diversity management—that is, managing diversity within a company—is a branch of human resources management that views workforce diversity as a key to success. The diversity among an organization’s members is recognized as a source of potential, valued, and actively leveraged.
The benefits for companies can include:
- A positive image and improved recruitment of skilled personnel
- Increased productivity through new perspectives, skills, and knowledge
- Strengthened team spirit and higher employee retention
- Increased innovative capacity
- Expanded pool of young talent and trainees
- Reaching new customer groups
Learn how to make your company more diversity-sensitive: Below you will find a collection of resources and links on the topic of diversity management in the workplace, with a focus on LGBTIQ*.
What does LGBTIQ* mean?
LGBTIQ* stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter*, non-binary, and queer people. The asterisk* here represents the sexual orientations and gender identities that are not directly included in the acronym. It is intended to highlight the full diversity of queer identities.
Instead of LSBTIQ*, you’ll often see the abbreviation LGBTIQ*. This is the English variant (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter*, queer).
What is Diversity Management?
An estimated 1.3 million or more LGBTIQ* people live and work in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Through successful diversity management, you can help the employees in your company reach their full potential. Diversity management aims to actively incorporate and leverage personnel and cultural diversity within the company. This benefits both the company and its employees: company loyalty and motivation increase.
A Guide to the Many Small Differences
Do you have questions about these terms? The Guide to the Many Small Differences from the “Different & Equal” campaign, sponsored by the Queer Network NRW e. V., is a kind of dictionary that explains terms related to sexual and gender diversity. The guide is also available in plain language
What is the AGG?
The General Equal Treatment Act (AGG), also known as the Anti-Discrimination Act, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual identity, among other grounds, including in the workplace.
Further Information Links for Further Reading
