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.
Don’t Centre All of Your Socials/Events Around Alcohol
More and more firms are looking at doing inclusive events and remembering that not everyone drinks alcohol. However, it is not enough to simply provide non-alcoholic drinks (although it is important to do this). You need to think about the environment too.
It is important to create an inclusive environmental for those who do not drink alcohol for personal, cultural, or medical reasons. This means that not every event/social should be in the local pub. If people want to drink, consider going to a restaurant or event venue with some drinks and entertainment rather than just the local pub. Consider hosting events where the main focus is food or an activity and not the alcohol.
Employees feel included (regardless of whether they drink alcohol or not) and should be able to participate in social/networking events or business meetings without feeling pressured to drink alcohol.
Read the full “How to be an Ally” series here.
