Impactful Inclusion Toolkit

ACTIVITY 30Make the Workplace Safe for Everyone to Be Themselves

“It ain't enough to talk of toleration! Each of us is to be the vessel of unification.”

—Abhijit Naskar

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Increasingly, members of marginalized groups are aspiring to bring their whole selves to the workplace. The workplace becomes more enjoyable, and we can be much more productive when we can be our authentic selves. We wouldn't have to put energy that could be better served elsewhere into being someone who we are not for 40+ hours a week. Historically, individuals from underrepresented groups were forced to assimilate to the dominant culture simply to be employable, and things haven't changed much over the years. African American people have altered their natural hairstyles, immigrants have adopted American-sounding names, gay people remain closeted, and mixed-race individuals who can pass for White may choose to do so at the expense of embracing the richness of other cultures that make them who they are. Individuals with disabilities choose not to disclose for fear of being stigmatized. Those who are traditionally excluded have endured laughing at inappropriate jokes, laughing at jokes without a clue as to why they were funny, or dumbed ourselves down to not outshine White bosses. When trauma strikes through acts of violence on the innocent, the traumatized are expected to leave emotions out of the workplace. Shedding parts of ourselves at the door that have nothing to do with job performance may mean leaving ...