Ensuring LGBTQ+ Workplace Equity and Inclusion to Future-Proof Your Hospital or Health System (95H)

With today's healthcare workforce shortages and the shifting generational demographics of the workforce, healthcare systems cannot afford to leave any workers behind and must create an equitable and inclusive environment for all, including the LGBTQ+ community. This workshop will present information from two workplace research reports from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, as well as real-world examples from hospitals around the country that have made efforts to become more LGBTQ+ inclusive workplaces.

The "Equality Rising: LGBTQ+ Workers and the Road Ahead" study features new data from a national survey that outlines the experience of LGBTQ+ individuals at their jobs and the reality of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. This session will present data specifically from the healthcare workforce survey participants. The "Future-Proofing Business: Embracing Today and Tomorrow's LGBTQ+ Workers and Customers" report underscores that as more consumers and workers identify as LGBTQ+ and allies, expectations are raised for organizations to support the community and embrace pro-equality actions and LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion if they want to compete for these workers and loyalty as patients. These reports also show how workplace inclusion impacts employee recruitment, productivity, engagement and retention. These reports not only lay the groundwork for understanding what workplace inclusion looks like for LGBTQ+ workers but also, along with the programs of the HRC Foundation, provide a roadmap to help future-proof your organization. Finally, the presenters will provide workplace data from the Healthcare Equality Index 2024 on what types of LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts have been undertaken by hospitals around the country along with examples from participating hospitals and guidance on how to replicate these efforts in other hospital or health systems. Interactive activities will be infused throughout the workshop utilizing Mentimeter.