We take PRIDE in our work – the Hyland Pride Alliance
I’m excited to introduce Hyland Pride Alliance (HPA), an LGBT+ employee resource group. Since January 2018, HPA has been open to all Hyland employees through several activities centered on LGBT+ culture.
However, we officially launched HPA during our Monday Morning Meeting on June 4. Our aim is to get more and more people involved.
At Hyland, we treat our employees like a big family. We want all individuals to feel comfortable in their own skin and everyone to treat each other with respect and fairness.
– George Angelato, VP of Customer Service
For the past couple of months, HPA has hosted activities and events for Hylanders to help educate them about the group and the LGBT+ community. We held a kick off social for new members, an LGBT+ history trivia night, and a Day of Silence lunch and learn to educate about the national day of action and how they can do their part in stopping LGBT+ bullying.
Part of the family
As June is Pride month in the U.S., Hyland is sponsoring Pride events in both Westlake and our Lenexa offices. Hyland Pride Alliance also participated in the Pride in the CLE March on Saturday, June 2. Employees marched with family members and each other celebrating PRIDE in Cleveland. It’s been a great experience for everyone.
“At Hyland, we treat our employees like a big family. We want all individuals to feel comfortable in their own skin and everyone to treat each other with respect and fairness,” said George Angelato, our Vice President of Customer Experience and Westlake’s Hyland Pride Alliance Executive Sponsor. “We respect our employees’ backgrounds and HPA ensures Hyland is a safe place for employees.”
Here are a few ways we’ve been building momentum for our official rollout of HPA:
- In 2017, we partnered with Equality of Ohio and joined the Ohio Business Competes Coalition – a nonpartisan coalition of businesses committed to achieving nondiscrimination policies at the state level in order to attract the best talent
- In 2018, we donated to the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project which focuses on LGBT+ sheltering and rehabilitation
- We have also partnered with various organizations to support the LGBT+ community throughout the years, including: Plexus, Equality Ohio, Case Western’s Lambda Chapter and MetroHealth
Reflection and pride
Starting HPA has been on my mind for the last several years. But when I was ready, moving this idea from thought to reality happened quickly and naturally. And management was extremely supportive.
I’m excited about being a leader for this employee resource group, as it means I can personally make a positive impact in the LGBT+ community at Hyland and within the greater community. I want new and existing employees to feel the way I did when I joined Hyland in 2008. It was the first time in my professional life when I felt accepted and comfortable being me. I didn’t have to hide anymore.
Having George, an executive I can meet with to discuss new ideas and evolve Hyland Pride Alliance, has been extremely rewarding and shows management cares for the well-being of our employees. The coming-out process never ends, but here at Hyland, I’ve rarely felt the need to do so.
It was the first time in my professional life where I felt accepted and comfortable being me. I didn’t have to hide anymore.
We’ve been able to do great things internally at Hyland, but I’m excited for the next couple of months, as we ramp up our collaboration with HR and our executive team to ensure the best possible environment for LGBT+ employees. The HPA is open to all employees, so we hope to see you at our next meeting. And I hope to see everyone else out in the community!
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- We take PRIDE in our work – the Hyland Pride Alliance - 06/18/2018
