5 Reasons Your Employees Might Not Feel Comfortable in the Workplace, and How to Change That

Creating a safe and open workspace where people are free to openly identify and be their authentic selves is not only beneficial to employee wellbeing, but also integral to any successful business. By making sure that everybody at your company feels safe and secure, you can foster an environment which thrives in diverse thinking and innovation.

Here are some reasons why your employees might not be currently feeling comfortable identifying openly in the workplace, and how that can change:

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1) No Employee Resource Groups

If your company doesn’t feature any employee resource groups, the opportunity to vocalize and bring forward any potential developments among the team becomes very limited. Many businesses thrive with the addition of employee resource groups dedicated to race, sexuality, gender identity, religion, disability, and many other subcultures in society.

To deny the chance for employees to socialize and discuss ways to progress the company is detrimental to both employee mental health and company opportunities. Make sure to suggest and allow for the opportunity for employees to form ERGs, with open communication and the chance to address and adapt attitudes throughout the workspace, if necessary.

2) Not Enough Diversity in Staff

Research has shown that businesses thrive when a multitude of voices from various communities and backgrounds bring forward their unique suggestions for company growth. Imbalances in gender and race create limitations in the company, as well as potentially alienating minorities in the workplace.

It is becoming increasingly important in business success to recognize diversity during the hiring process. Different life experiences will offer different perspectives, bringing ideas to the table that could otherwise have been overlooked. By making sure that there are diverse role models and colleagues throughout the team, staff morale and company growth can be accelerated.

3) No Verbal Support

A huge reason that employees may not be comfortable identifying openly at work is because they might not be aware if the company ethos is supportive of them. In the case of LGBTQ+ employees, many stay closeted due to fears of workplace discrimination, being prevented from excelling up the ladder of success, and in some cases, losing their jobs due to their identity.