The Cost of the Closet: How Employers Are Wasting Money By Not Creating 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusive Workspaces

<p>Michael Bach is the founder of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and the CEO of CCDI Consulting Inc. He is nationally and internationally recognized as a thought leader and subject matter expert in the fields of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, bringing a vast knowledge of leading practices in a live setting to his work. He is the author of the best-selling and award-winning books <i>‘Birds of All Feathers: Doing Diversity and Inclusion Right’</i> and <i>‘Alphabet Soup: The Essential Guide to LGBTQ2+ Inclusion at Work’</i>.</p><p><strong>Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:</strong></p><ul><li>Michael Bach’s past as Deputy Chief Diversity Officer for KPMG globally</li><li>When and why Michael founded CCDI</li><li>Why LGBTQ+ inclusion is a sound business decision</li><li>The differences between sex, sexuality, and gender</li><li>Actions CEOS and leaders can take to make workplaces more inclusive</li><li>How common language - such as maternity leave - is gendered and exclusive</li><li>How opposite-sex spouses are the default assumption in a workplace</li><li>Where behaviors such as homophobia, transphobia, and biophobia stem from</li><li>The movie Michael found most impactful in his life </li></ul><p><strong>In this episode…</strong></p><p>Michael Bach, the founder of CCDI and author of <i>‘Alphabet Soup’</i>, joins the podcast to speak with Martin about LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace. Inclusion isn’t just acknowledging that people have different preferences and lives but is giving them psychological safety and a place to belong exactly as they are.</p><p>The differences between equality, diversity, and inclusion are explained by Michael Bach as they relate to the workplace. It is the ability to feel safe at work, safe to live authentically, that is at stake. Michael points out examples such as being asked about opposite-sex spouses as a matter of assumption that chip away such safety, or addressing gatherings with “ladies and gentlemen”. He encourages deeper thought about the