Walmart Empowering LGBTQ+ Employees and the People they serve through the initiative: Pride Every Single Day

by Team Iamsafeatwork

03-07-2023

Safety

Pride. It evokes feelings of deep joy and adoration, but it also speaks to acceptance and inclusiveness, two values that we hold dear at Walmart. I have the honour of acting as the executive sponsor of our Pride associate resource group, and I’m pleased to inform that Walmart has formed an LGBTQ+ Officer Caucus. We have multiple officer caucuses at Walmart made up of senior executives who are dedicated to establishing community and improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. We are creating a Walmart for everyone, and we recognise that diverse leadership voices generate innovation, direct our path forward, and inspire us. The LGBTQ+ Officer Caucus members have a strong desire to help our LGBTQ+ colleagues and have chosen to lead within our organisation so that others can feel comfortable and confident doing the same. After all, when we look at the communities with which we identify, not all of them provide visual identification unless we choose to be seen.

Some of our recent programmes and activities focusing on well-being, inclusivity, and giving highlight our support of LGBTQ+ associates.

• Well-being: Walmart joined with Included Health to provide health services to LGBTQ+ employees. The concierge team at Included Health is available to users of most Walmart medical plans and specialises in connecting members with quality treatment as well as offering support on a variety of topics, including coming out at work.

• Inclusivity: Encouraging associates to bring their true selves to work every day frequently starts with something as simple as a name. A person’s name is the most direct link to their identity and should be recognised consistently throughout the organisation. We are constantly updating our systems and processes to allow for preferred name usage.  Furthermore, associates can now self-identify their sexual orientation, gender identity, and pronouns if they so like. The preferred name and self-identification programmes are only two examples of our efforts to foster a sense of inclusion and belonging in the workplace.

• Giving: Building on a long-standing connection with PFLAG, the Walmart Foundation granted a $500,000 gift to help the organisation expand PFLAG Connects, a programme that provides virtual meeting spaces to connect LGBTQ+ persons, their families, and allies. The grant is assisting in the strengthening of PFLAG Connects: Communities, an extension of the PFLAG Connects programme that provides safe, moderated virtual spaces for AAPI, Black, and Latino families. PFLAG is the first and largest organisation committed to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families.

In addition, Walmart gave the Ad Council a grant to support its “Love Has No Labels” campaign, which aims to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion of all individuals regardless of colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability. This award helps the Ad Council respond to current events by developing effective content and resources that influence hearts, minds, and behaviours to build a more inclusive world.

At Walmart, respect, service, excellence, and integrity guide all we do. It is crucial that our principles are upheld and that the LBGTQ+ community is represented. The measures we are doing to make sure everyone is welcomed and has a place at Walmart are something we are proud of as our sense of belonging starts with us.