Out & Equal Workplace Advocates unveiled its new LGBTCareerLink
website, a career development tool connecting diversity-minded employers
with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) job seekers. Many
industry-leading companies who are committed to identifying, hiring and
retaining LGBT talent have already signed onto the new service, posting
job openings around the country, and developing employer profiles
demonstrating how they support LGBT people in the workplace. Out &
Equal is proud to recognize early participants, BP, Brown-Forman, The
Clorox Company, Comcast, Ernst & Young, Hewlett-Packard, PG&E,
PNC, T-Mobile, UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint. Given its initial
success, LGBTCareerLink is poised to become the leading source for LGBT
talent recruitment.
When Torrance, an Out & Equal constituent, decided to come out at
work, he thought it would bring him closer to coworkers and lift the
workplace stress that many closeted lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender employees experience. Yet shortly after coming out, Torrance
was fired simply for being gay. LGBTCareerLink was developed to help
individuals, like Torrance, find career opportunities with employers
that not only acknowledge and value diversity, but put it into practice.
"People should be judged by the work they do, and never by their
sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. By connecting
LGBT people with diversity-minded employers, Out & Equal's
LGBTCareerLink will help individuals become more successful and
productive by bringing their whole selves to the workplace," said Out
& Equal Founding Executive Director Selisse Berry.
On the new LGBTCareerLink, job seekers can register for free, develop
virtual resumes and employment applications, and apply directly to
thousands of new jobs added every week. Users may also upload their
resumes to a searchable database available to recruiting companies, in
addition to establishing job search agents that notify job seekers when
new positions open up with LGBTCareerLink's partner companies. Employers
have the only available direct access to the LGBT workforce and can
post one or one thousand job postings through a variety of subscription
and partnership packages. The platform also provides access to a
dashboard of analytical tools to track and measure the impact of
LGBTCareerLink as a LGBT talent recruitment resource.
Despite suffering through the embarrassment of being fired, simply
for bringing his authentic self to work, Torrance found a new employer
through LGBTCareerLink that invites and celebrates his diversity.
Torrance's story is ultimately one of success, yet reflects the harsh
reality faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community:
regardless of educational level, past experience, or overwhelming
success, LGBT people are often discriminated against in the workplace,
and no federal level employment protections exist to shield them from
discrimination.
Through LGBTCareerLink, Out & Equal hopes to advance equality for
LGBT people in the workplace by linking employees and employers who
mutually value authenticity.