Workplace Nudity

Hooray for more research! Sylvia Ann Hewlett and Karen Sumberg of the Center for Work-Life Policy have published an article in the Harvard Business Review outlining their study on coming out at work.

They’ve found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees who reveal their sexual identity are generally more successful. From the article:

Our research suggests that many are hiding needlessly and that “out” workers may stand a better chance than closeted workers of being promoted (although there are still relatively few openly gay senior executives). This appears to be the case largely because closeted workers suffer anxiety about how colleagues and managers might judge them and expend enormous effort concealing their orientation, which leaves them less energy for actual work. Further, LGBT workers who feel forced to lie about their identity and relationships typically don’t engage in collegial banter about such things as weekend activities—banter that forges important workplace bonds.

What good news! That we already knew.

Now let’s do an exercise. For a moment, let’s not only consider the LGBT population; let’s think about everybody at work. Nearly everyone at work struggles in some way to be fully open about who they are. So we’re going to substitute “humanity” for “orientation” in the paragraph above, and omit the terms “gay” and “LGBT.”

So once more, this time thinking about all people:

Our research suggests that many are hiding needlessly and that “out” workers may stand a better chance than closeted workers of being promoted (although there are still relatively few openly gay senior executives). This appears to be the case largely because closeted workers suffer anxiety about how colleagues and managers might judge them and expend enormous effort concealing their orientation humanity, which leaves them less energy for actual work. Further, LGBT workers who feel forced to lie about their identity and relationships typically don’t engage in collegial banter about such things as weekend activities—banter that forges important workplace bonds.

Mostly works, right? Regardless of what specifically you may be striving to conceal about your self, it’s increasingly evident that hiding is detrimental to your career. Seven (7) million* gay people can’t be the only ones to benefit from coming out at work. Clearly there’s opportunity for everybody!

If you’re wondering what parts of your self can be liberated on the job, look no further.

We love how this research supports the viability of workplace nudity.

So what are you waiting for? What would you love to reveal about your self at work, that you haven’t already?

* Estimated number of LGBT employees in the U.S. private sector

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June is LGBT–lesbian, gay, bi and trans–Pride month, when queer folks and allies come together in the name of pride and the pursuit of equality, inside and outside of the workplace.

Coinciding with the occasion, In the Life Media has produced a series of videos called ”LGBT Executives Speak Out” in which corporate and non-profit leaders reveal their advocacy work. Press the play button to view the segment above, which features Bobby Wilkinson of State Farm Insurance.

The series is an interactive supplement to “A Message of Hope” viewable in its entirety here.

How do you like the videos?

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Homophobia, or the irrational discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, is a horrible and destructive force. Along with racism, sexism and other prejudices, it’s the source of so many ills in the world, and thus, the workplace.

In America, organizations exist to quell the effects of the devastating and pervasive dynamic, and many European nations–depicted in purple to the right–have laws against related hate crimes and hate speech. While it’s difficult to extinguish this ever-powerful group dynamic, that’s OK; increasing evidence is pointing to the upside of a homophobic environment.

You read that right.

Adam Kelley and Frank Golom, a teacher and organizational development consultant, respectively, have been affected by homophobia at work, ultimately for the better. They were recently profiled in TC Today, the magazine of Teachers College (TC), Columbia University.

At the Brooklyn High School for Leadership and Community Service, Adam Kelley’s teaching is informed by a previous, harrowing work experience. Writes Emily Rosenbaum:

As a Peace Corps volunteer teaching kindergartners in a village in Uganda, he was outed by a woman who was attempting to blackmail him. The punishment for male homosexuality under Ugandan tribal law is severe, and Kelley had to flee, returning to the States.

Read more »

We’d like to unlearn what we’ve been taught about attending office holiday parties.  Holding on to so many “dos and don’ts” can produce untold tension, exactly what we’d like to avoid when celebrating.

Holiday gatherings in the office are tough partly because of the cognitive dissonance they bring. Is it work? Is it a party? Is it possible to engage in real revelry at work?  Yes, yes and yes. Since these get-togethers come only once a year, let’s think about some new ways to have a relaxed and fruitful experience.

1. Look closely at how you’re feeling as the party approaches. Are you nervous? Feeling dread? Think about what may be causing these feelings, which may be related to a particular person or people who will be at the shindig. What can you do or say before or during the party to help you feel better?

2. Identify your roadblocks to merrymaking. Depending on your manager’s perception of your performance this year, end-of-year reviews may bring you down. While we’ll examine this phenomenon in more detail in a future post, pinpoint how you’re feeling about your work this year. Fact is, you got through it, which in itself is cause for celebration.

A more poignant roadblock occurs when organizational heads party alongside you, kicking your coworkers’ competitive spirit into high gear as they vie for the honchos’ affections.  This may engage your own competitive nature — why shouldn’t the big bosses acknowledge you, too? — or your tendency to withdraw. Know yourself, so you won’t be surprised by your reactions during the festivities.

3. Speak to your discomfort. Because you won’t be alone if you have the holiday blues, sharing your feelings with trusted colleagues can bring relief. You may even provide comfort to those with whom you’re speaking, as they witness your candor and confidence in opening up. You exhibit leadership by revealing your personal, and very common, feelings, and you give permission to those around you to open up, too. Talk about holiday giving!

Should you find that you don’t share similar sentiments about the holidays as your office-mate(s), dig deeper within yourself to find something inside you with which you can join in the conversation — a past experience or a passing emotion, for example.

4. Listen while you’re conversing. Holiday parties are about connecting with your colleagues, and the foremost way to do so is by listening to them. What you’ll derive from listening has no limit. You may be heartened to hear about your teammates’ similar self-consciousness at parties, you might identify certain talents in a colleague that you didn’t know existed–and possibly feed your pipeline of talent for next year–and you might learn about trends in the organization or industry that could lead to professional advancement in the coming months.

5. Leverage the occasion to come out Read more »

We love The Onion! We can’t think of a better way–lighthearted and biting at the same time–to start a discussion on what it would mean for us to repeal DADT, the policy that bars lesbian and gay people from serving in the U.S. military. Today top defense officials called for an end to the 16-year old law.

This is the first post in a series on the effects of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” on average American workers.  What do you think of repealing DADT?

Any excuse to talk about pop chanteuse Belinda Carlisle, whose memoir Lips Unsealed is due out in June. How do you know when someone at work is an ally, or sympathetic to you as a queer person? Hearing them support pro-gay legislation is one example, as Belinda does in the video:

Hi, I’m Belinda Carlisle, and I’m recording this message not as a musician or public figure, but as a mom. My son James is gay, and I want him and every other gay person out there to have the same opportunities and rights that I’ve had in life.
Next month the State of Maine will be voting to decide whether or not to preserve the equal marriage law signed by the governor earlier this year. After the devastating setback that was Proposition 8, it is absolutely vital that we win this battle in the “Pine Tree” State. By doing so, we will send a strong message to President Obama and our representatives in Washington that public opinion is with us, and it is time for federal action.
Please join the effort by going to protectmaineequality.org and donating now. Together let’s affirm equal rights for all Americans and give hope to young gay people, like my son, for a better future.

It’s really touching to hear the love in her voice and see her smile at the end when she says “give hope to young people, like my son…”

So let’s imagine that Ms. Carlisle is your office mate. Ha! If you overheard Belinda while walking past her workstation, you might chime in–and come out if you haven’t already–or at least remember that she’s someone who’s friendly. You take care of yourself by the comfort you feel in knowing that should you need support, she might be there.

Incidentally, after this video was produced, Maine became the 31st state to reject same-sex marriage at the ballot box. Boo! Hiss!

You live near Southern California? Then you should know that Out for Work is hosting the next LGBTQA College Student Career Conference at UCLA on April 10 & 11, 2010.  The two-day agenda includes workshops on building your personal brand and one called “Manners, meals and interviews.”

College students may benefit from exploring the dimensions of being queer and looking for work post-graduation.  Some parents, teachers–and yes, career counselors–talk about what it means to be “professional” at work, which can fly in the face of your desire to be out at work. If you plan to go to the conference, bring your toughest questions about what your sexual identity has to do with your career! Of course, for more insight, keep reading this blog…

Out for Work lists a national conference to be held in Washington DC in September 2010. More info