An ally is someone who is not a member of an underrepresented group but who takes action to support that group to help make their workplace more diverse and inclusive for all.
For workplaces to become truly inclusive it is up to people who hold positions of privilege to be active allies and to take responsibility for making changes that will help others be successful.
Allies at all levels can take action with simple, everyday efforts that make a real difference and in this series, we highlight some things that you can do to be an ally and to support your colleagues from underrepresented groups.
#18: Support all your employees through major life events
It is important to challenge bias and remove barriers within your internal processes. Part of being an ally is ensuring that these reviews take place, seeking feedback from colleagues and identifying and removing barriers and bias.
For example it is important that you provide support for all your employees through major life events. The firms should make sure that they put inclusive policies and guidelines in place to ensure that their employees have their support they need and managers/supervisors know what support is available and how to give it to their team members. It is important to check your policies to ensure that they are inclusive.
Consider as many groups as you can, including those who are:
- parents
- carers
- planning, taking or returning from career breaks
- going through menopause
- transitioning
Read the full “How to be an Ally” series here.
