The Blueprint Of A Workplace Ally by
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What is an Ally? An ally is any person who actively promotes and aspires to advance a culture of inclusion through intentional, positive and conscious efforts that benefit people as a whole. “Workplace allies” are people who are willing to personally align themselves with their colleagues to make sure all voices are heard and included. Allyship isn’t about grand gestures, it’s about being cognizant of everyday, systemic issues and showing up for one’s colleagues from marginalized communities. Here is a basic blueprint of becoming a workplace ally by Godrej Properties and Gaysi Family >
Support your peers without judgment Thank you!
Hi folks! Welcome to Godrej.
Gender neutral greetings are a good way to start any conversation!
Hey there, thanks!
Joining allyship and inclusivity groups is a great way to show your support
Lead by example, mention your pronouns while introducing yourself
Heard it’s your first day? Welcome to the team! I’m Fiza, and my pronouns are she/her. Yess, thank you! You can call me Aarya, my pronouns are they/them.
Celebrate your peers’ accomplishments Our intern has become an executive! Congrats!
Support your local NGOs and community spaces by sharing their work in your circles
Actively listen to and engage with your peers Good idea, noting it down!
We should consider collaborating with this foundation for the project.
Hey, you’ve been quiet today. What are your thoughts on the proposal?
Check in with your peers, invite them to join the discussion
I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with information right now, let me get back to you on email tomorrow.
Support your neurodiverse peers by making space for different ways of functioning
When you see a disabled or transgender person in the washroom: • Respect their privacy • Respect their identity • Protect them from harm and distress • Carry on with your day Make sure NOT to.. • Stare at them • Insult them • Challenge them • Intentionally make them feel conscious or uncomfortable
*Homophobic joke*
Speak up!
Hey, that’s not funny. You’re right, thanks for pointing that out. I’ll be more mindful.
How was your Eid celebration? Soooo good!
Let’s do an Eid potluck next time!
Recognise and speak up against microaggressions Microaggressions are comments or an action that is subtly hostile or demeaning to a member of a minority or marginalized group. They ARE NOT funny jokes!
Respect everyone’s privacy
Did you meet Sana’s girlfriend at the Christmas party? She was hilarious! Oh yes, absolutely hysterical! Do you think she’s had the surgery yet? I just couldn’t figure it out. Let’s not talk about her personal life, it’s intrusive. We can keep talking about how funny she is though!
I believe there’s scope to make our campaign more inclusive.
Make provisions for hybrid workspaces
I recommend checking out this online resource, I believe it’ll be valuable to our discussion.
Educating yourself is a constant journey
Yes, I agree with Theo... There’s always room for improvement, let’s decide on a new POA together.
Stand up for your peers and be vocal about your support as an ally
Be mindful of peers with sensory sensitivities We’re being too loud, let’s try to keep it down.
We’re making an office team, would you like to join us? Definitely!
Be open to having a diverse team and building new relationships with your peers
A team member came out to me recently, I wasn’t sure about how to respond...
That’s great! They must really trust you. Here’s a few things you can do if it comes up again:
1. Check in on how confidential this information is (Do other people know? Is it a secret?) 2. Remember that gender and sexuality are just some of many dimensions of one’s identity. 3. Show interest and curiosity about this part of their lives since they are sharing it with you! 4. Ask them how you can best support them.
This helps! Thank you.
Thanks!
Allyship Beyond the Workplace 1. Continue to practice allyship in and outside of the office. 2. Spread awareness by talking to those outside of work-circles. 3. Do the homework, educate and check yourself! 4. Keep referring back to your organization’s Inclusivity and Diversity guidelines.
“There is no place for discrimination at Godrej. Only place for open hearts and minds.” Diversity is core to who we are as a company, and has been for over a century. It’s not just a nice thing to do - it makes great business sense. Being more diverse - especially having our team members reflect the diversity of our businesses and communities - helps us innovate better and grow faster. We believe that passionate, rounded individuals with diverse interests make for better Godrejites. This zine has been designed as a guide to help create spaces that enable everyday joys.
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