TaskUs, a provider of outsourced digital services to fast-growing technology companies, actively supports gender equality in the workplace as it recently celebrated Pride Month.
It held the webinar “See The World Through A Rainbow Lens: A roundtable discussion on why LGBTQ+ inclusivity Matters” where the discussion centered on the LGBTQ+ experiences in the workplace and what a safe working environment looks like.
“While we’ve seen progress in recognizing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, we know that there is still much to do, especially in the workplace. We still need to work toward an environment that celebrates one’s authenticity and policies that promote equality,” said TaskUs director for brand strategy Addi Dela Cruz.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have been on the rise with more DEI roles opening in various companies across different regions.
EMEA reported a 67-percent growth in DEI initiatives, while the Asia-Pacific region saw an uptick in conversations that revolve around DEI.
Data from LinkedIn showed that posts that center on diversity increased by 77 percent and are likely to get 125-percent more engagement.
While these strides forward are very much welcome, LGBTQ+ employees still have barriers to overcome—an example of which is the pandemic’s negative economic impacts, which they felt twice as much compared to their straight counterparts.
A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that LGBTQ+ households in the US experienced COVID-related job loss at a higher rate than non-LGBTQ+ households. In the Philippines, existing silent biases threaten job retention for many LGBTQ+ employees following lack of policies that support stability of tenure for LGBTQ+ employees arising from unfair retrenchment.
TaskUs, a staunch advocate of DEI, celebrated its diverse employees by taking part in Pride marches in various countries.
“Workplaces, no matter how big or small, should make sure that barriers to realizing one’s full potential should not exist, especially for their employees who are part of minority groups such as the LGBTQ+ community, women, and even Persons with Disabilities,” said TaskUs senior director for global diversity and inclusion Ana Marfil.
She said TaskUs has always been a safe workplace for minority groups, especially the LGBTQ+ community.
“Not all regions where TaskUs is located provide laws and benefits for LGBTQ+ employees. But this doesn’t stop us, as an organization, to create company policies that will safeguard the welfare of our employees. Companies can create benefits, programs, and policies on top of any government mandates,” she said.
On a global scale, TaskUs’ human capital management tool encourages teammates to self-identify their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and their pronouns so the people within the company and DEI teams can improve and create more programs to support their LGBTQ+ employees.
TaskUs also created several employee resource groups in each region. ERGs are voluntary, employee-led organizations that exist to put forward employee advocacies, take part in lobbying recommendations for policy-making and company benefits, and create a safe space for marginalized groups inside and outside TaskUs.
ERGS within the workplace include LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, people of color, women and army veteran employees, among others.
TaskUs Philippines has all-gender restrooms to ensure that no employee ever feels discriminated against even for trivial things such as using a bathroom.
At the employee level, HMO benefits for LGBTQ+ employees are extended to their same-sex partners and their kids, and also include coverage for HIV treatment and gender reassignment surgeries are provided in the Philippines and India respectively. TaskUs Philippines also has all-gender restrooms across all its sites, a suggestion by one of its teammates.
“These practices may go beyond the norm for others, but as a people-first company and an equal opportunity employer, we want our employees to be free from the fear of being discriminated against because of their gender, race, or even disabilities. This allows and empowers them to utilize their energy and time productively,” Marfil said.
By being an industry leader and a champion for DEI in the workplace, TaskUs is committed to spreading a work culture that celebrates one’s talents, uniqueness and authenticity in the best way possible.
