Proudly introducing the Pride Pledge

Find Recruitment are delighted to have taken the Pride Pledge in 2023 and we recently announced our commitment to further develop our D,E&I policies and practices within our organisation for our rainbow communities, candidates and clients. We have now started the Pride Pledge Rainbow Inclusion Stocktake which will help inform our plans and goals for the coming 12 months and beyond.

What is Pride Pledge?

The Pride Pledge is a values-based commitment that organisations can take to demonstrate their dedication to the safety, visibility and inclusion of our rainbow communities all year round at work and outside of work.

Pride Pledge is now 5 years young and is New Zealand’s leading Rainbow Inclusion consultancy, partnering with more than 300 organisations of all shapes and sizes around the country, offering a range of services and resources to accelerate Rainbow Inclusion practices and outcomes.

What are some of the trends?

Global data shows clearly that we are entering an era where young people identify as LGBTTQIA+ (Rainbow) in numbers unseen in previous generations. From a range of surveys approximately 30% of Generation Z’s (people born 1997 - 2013) identify somewhere within the rainbow of which 4% identify as gender diverse. As Gen Z’s are entering and beginning to enter the workforce (over 1 million New Zealanders) it is essential that our organisations are playing catch up to ensure they provide a safe and inclusive workplace.

What are some of the key challenges for Rainbow Communities in New Zealand workplaces?

Sadly, despite more progressive laws and more people identifying as LGBTTQIA+ than ever before, data around anxiety, depression and sense of well being and belonging in our workplaces has some way to go to catch up. Our Rainbow communities still suffer bullying and harassment more than any other group and this creates pressures for people to hide their identities and remain closeted at work. This is more prevalent in global data for our Gender Diverse, Intersex and Bi-sexual communities. We are not there yet, but we’re on the right path!

What are some of the opportunities for employers?

Generation Z’s expect employers more than previous generations to show ‘social and community responsibility’ and a visible committment to creating an inclusive workplace. This is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a key to attracting, engaging and retaining talent in the next generation. Organisations that embrace and celebrate diversity will win the best talent because they care about people.

What are some of the key steps organisations can take?

Like anything, there is no silver bullet. There are a range of commitments, policies, systems and culture changes that need to be put in place and this can take time. The most critical step is to make a start and get on the journey. We often see organisations being too afraid or not knowing what to start with. Taking The Pride Pledge and joining the network can be a powerful step with training, support, networking, advice, best practice resources, and policy support, including The Rainbow Inclusion Stocktake. The Stocktake helps you assess your organisations against our best practice framework and provides a recommended action plan of things that matter - there are options for both small to large organisations! We also recommend our Rainbow Awareness Training to build understanding and awareness of our rainbow communities and language - people are curious and want to learn.

For organisations that are more advanced on their journey what can they do?

Don’t take your foot off the accelerator - remain active and curious. Things are changing fast and we are learning new things all the time. Right now, leading organisations are ensuring they have Gender Affirming Policies in place, many announcing paid Gender Affirming Leave and reviewing things like uniform or dress code policies to ensure they are gender inclusive. We also see these organisations measuring and reporting on their Rainbow workforces to better understand their experiences at work and how to address any challenges. It’s a journey - keep going and through Pride Pledge you can get involved in our monthly collaboration meetings to network, learn and share with other leading organisations to stay on your toes.

Meet Martin King

Martin King (he/him) is the Director and Founder of Pride Pledge bringing more than 25 years working in Human Resources and Diversity & Inclusion. Martin is based in Auckland with his husband Mike, their 16 year old son and their dog Chase. Martin is passionate about making the world a better place for our Rainbow communities through Pride Pledge every single day, one organisation at a time.

Connect with Martin