Greenheart’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

 
Greenheart’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Greenheart is Committed to a Diverse and Inclusive Space for All

“Did you get an email back from her?”  “Did he submit his application?”  “When is he scheduled to arrive?”  These seemingly common interactions are often said in the workplace, but for those who do not identify with the pronouns ‘her’ or ‘he’ this could be offensive. Instead of assuming we know an individual’s preferred gender pronoun (PGP), we should ask, “ What are your preferred pronouns?”

At Greenheart one of our core values is We are Inclusive of All Worldviews.  We appreciate that everyone has a unique worldview and value everyone regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, ability, military status, religion, sexual orientation or political view.  We are committed to building relationships and ensuring everyone we encounter feels welcomed, respected, and accepted.  Which is why it’s important to gain greater awareness and new perspectives to create a safe, affirming and inclusive space for all!

What kind of pronouns may be used?

  • He, him, his and she, her, hers
    • These pronouns are most common.  They are traditionally referred to as masculine or feminine pronouns, but some prefer to avoid these labels, as it may allow for unwanted stereotypes.
  • They/Them/Theirs
    • Although this pronoun is typically used as a plural, it can also be used singularly. Examples “Jamel like cookies. Chocolate chip is their favorite flavor.”
  • Ze/Zie/XE (all pronounced like “Zee”), replaces she/he/they
  • Hir (pronounced like “here”), replaces her/hers/him/his/they/theirs
    • These pronouns are referred to as gender neutral
  • Name preference
    • Some people prefer to not use pronouns and would like their names to be used instead.

NEVER refer to anyone as “it” or “he/she”.  If you are ever unsure of a person’s PGP, use their name.

Why is it important to respect PGPs?

  • Asking an individual about their PGP is a simple way to show you welcome and respect all gender identities
  • Using the incorrect pronoun can be offensive and could make the individual feel less than welcomed
  • You shouldn’t assume and can’t always determine someone’s PGP by looking at the person

Here are a few highlights of what we have been doing, as well as some of our future plans to celebrate diversity and global understanding:

  • Current and Ongoing Diversity and Inclusion initiatives
    • Recruiting and posting from a diverse group of social media sites and career boards to attract and retain a diverse workforce
    • Our website and marketing materials reflect our work in the global community
    • Gender neutral restrooms
    • Custom User-defined fields with preferred names
    • Diversity and Inclusion Training for All Staff
    • Hosting lunch-n-learns highlighting various countries (we discuss food, customs, language, and other cultural experiences)
  • Upcoming Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives
    • Adding PGP preferences on all Outlook signature profiles for Greenheart staff
    • Creating custom reports so preferences are listed
    • Reviewing and updating documents and databases when possible
    • Reviewing and continually updating our policies

9 thoughts on "Greenheart’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion"

  1. Rob says:

    I think this is absolutely wonderful!

    1. Katy says:

      Thanks for your feedback! This is exactly the feeling we were hoping to achieve!

  2. Ted says:

    Wait, you’re missing several alternative gender identities in your list of pronouns.

    You don’t want to offend these marginalised minorities do you? I hope you keep this blog updated to be inclusive of all the ever growing alternative gender identities.

    1. Katy says:

      Thanks for your feedback! Although the blog lists some commonly used pronouns, we acknowledge and recognize there are many others. We will definitely update future posts.

  3. Jamel Magee says:

    I love this initiative!

  4. Scott Allison says:

    Being forced to use these pronouns would be very offensive to me and would make me feel unsafe and unwelcome in a workplace. What about my diversity?

    1. Olivia Havens says:

      Thanks so much for sharing your perspective. We understand that pronouns have the potential to be offensive or oppressive. This is why we want to provide staff the opportunity to share their pronouns preferences, but it is not required. We want to ensure as much as we can that our Greenheart community feels safe and respected at all times. Also, please note that this is not a fully comprehensive list of pronouns, but a small introductory list of some pronouns that are commonly used. Thanks for the comment!

  5. Peng Rui zou says:

    Thanks to you guys so much ,actully its my second time been here ,is so nice about everything .make my english improve so much ,adn also make me have such many good friends here and some of my friends they are coming to visit me this year.
    anyway its too much to say
    Thank for everything

  6. Shadira says:

    I Just love this!

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