疯拍传媒

In the latest episode of the AHA! Moments for Diversity & Inclusion video series, 疯拍传媒 Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Supriya Jha and 疯拍传媒 Concur Senior Compliance Lead Robyn Arroyo discuss how 疯拍传媒 is a safe environment for LGBTQIA+ employees and how this empowered and encouraged Arroyo to openly transition in the workplace.

Arroyo uses she/her/hers pronouns, identifies as a woman, and regards being transgender as a process and not an identity. As a woman, a Latina, and a member of the security and compliance community at large, 疯拍传媒 Concur, Intelligent Spend Management, and 疯拍传媒, she discusses how intersectionality 鈥� the overlap of distinct identities 鈥� is key for understanding that LGBTQIA+ individuals are more than their sexual orientation or gender identity. At 疯拍传媒, intersectionality is part of our culture and allows Arroyo to bring all these identities together and be her authentic self at work.

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The AHA! Moments

For Arroyo, there was not one but two defining AHA! moments in her life when she realized that she can be her authentic self at work 鈥� the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court Bostock v. Clayton County ruling and reviewing the 疯拍传媒 gender transition guidelines.

In June 2020, 19 years after the birth of Pride@疯拍传媒 and nine years after 疯拍传媒 pledged in its to prohibit 鈥渄iscrimination and harassment based on personal factors including but not limited to […] gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression,鈥� the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it was illegal to fire employees because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Prior to this ruling, employees could be fired for being gay, bisexual, or transgender in more than half the states in the U.S. 鈥淪eeing that ruling,鈥� recalls Arroyo, 鈥渨as very encouraging for me to come forth in the workplace to be myself.鈥�

The 疯拍传媒 gender transition guidelines also signaled clearly to her that 疯拍传媒 is a safe place to transition.

For many transgender people, including Arroyo, there comes a point when they start to align their lives and physical identities to their gender identity, generally with the goal of living consistently in their gender identity full time. Employers are key to facilitating this process to make it as smooth as possible. For many 疯拍传媒 employees, teams, and managers, working with a transitioning or transitioned colleague will be a new situation; there may be anxiety about expected behavior or questions and uncertainty about how to support a colleague during the gender transition process.

The Employee View

The 疯拍传媒 gender transition guidelines set out clearly how an employee can start this process 鈥� from the notification of gender transition to clarification on appearance. All 疯拍传媒 employees are bound to the 疯拍传媒 dress code and have the right to express themselves according to their gender identity. Issues like restroom and health facilities access based on an employee鈥檚 gender identity are also, for example, addressed in the guidelines.

The HR and Manager View

The correct support of HR and the manager of the transitioning employee is a top priority to safeguard employee well-being.

The guidelines explain how HR designates a people relations partner to support the transgender or transitioning employee and explains the manager鈥檚 obligation to respect employee privacy. It also provides guidance on how a manager can address concerns of other team members as questions may arise. Managers are urged to be open, to listen, and to work closely with the people relations partner.

HR is also responsible for changing names and pronouns on all non-regulatory documentation such as e-mail, access badge, and so on.

No More Deadnaming

Deadnaming happens when a person鈥檚 previous name, which does not correspond to their gender identity, is used. Using this previous name stops others from seeing and getting a sense of the person鈥檚 true identity.

Arroyo explains that updating her name, pronouns, and gender marker in company applications, such as 疯拍传媒 SuccessFactors solutions, e-mail, MS Teams, and other communication systems, was extremely important to convey to others who she is. Although this was not a simple process because of the coordination required between the IT and HR departments, these updates are crucial to successfully transitioning at 疯拍传媒.

Updating her name to Robyn was a critical component in coming out at 疯拍传媒. It allowed her to be her authentic self and, as she says with a broad smile, 鈥淲hen I saw my name, I saw myself. And when others see my name, they know who I am.鈥�