Creating a safe space at work

Are you able to be your ‘true self’ at work? There are a number of ways to do so which can include visual elements, such as gender, race, physical disability, accent, or even the way you dress. Sometimes, it can be something non-visual.

According to a 2020 Glassdoor survey, more than 3 out of 4 job seekers and employees polled said a diverse workforce is an important factor for them when evaluating job opportunities.

BySCMP Events

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Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Published: 3:55pm, 27 Jan 2022Updated: 10:33pm, 10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Sudesh Thevasenabathy, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Asia, Manulife

Are you able to be your ‘true self’ at work?

It’s definitely a loaded question, but how would you define being your true self? There are a number of ways to do so which can include visual elements, such as gender, race, physical disability, accent, or even the way you dress. Sometimes, it can be something non-visual like your sexual orientation, religion, non-visual impairment or an underlying mental health situation. According to a 2020 Glassdoor survey, more than 3 out of 4 job seekers and employees polled said a diverse workforce is an important factor for them when evaluating job opportunities.

To return to my question, has there been any situation where you have had to hide your true self at work, and how does that make you feel? Many of us put on our ‘armour’ when we leave the house, shielding ourselves from possible judgement, bias or harassment from the outside world. This is a very unhealthy and damaging feeling that causes much anguish, stress and sometimes keeps you from unleashing your potential at work.

Heavy armour stifles productivity

I’ve had many situations in my past of being verbally harassed or made to feel uncomfortable because of my skin colour. This includes people not sitting next to me on the train, cautious sales people tagging behind me in a store as I browse, and sometimes seeing fear from those walking into an elevator with me in it.

Having a fear of acceptance hovering over you can be very tiring and stifling, and carrying that heavy armour around is not easy either. This extra burden puts us always on the lookout to protect and keep ourselves safe, which usually causes challenges in delivering to our fullest potential. There is also a fear of failure attributed to “being different”, so we usually choose to be around those who are like us as it’s safer and easier – which doesn’t help in creating an inclusive and productive environment. In the 2020 Asia Pride and Prejudice report by The Economist, 52% of respondents said it is easier to advance professionally if they keep their sexual orientation private.