GlobalAge Survey

GlobalAge is an affinity group created by and for GLBT employees (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) and their allies. It is open to all employees regardless of sexual orientation.  Our Vision is to connect a full spectrum of people to recognize each Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, and Bisexual employee as an integral part of the workforce by valuing and developing the total person.

Our Mission

To Serve  as a resource to achieve workplace diversity and employee productivity goals by increasing awareness of sexual orientation issues in the workplace and promoting the recruitment and retention of top talent regardless of sexual orientation.

To Encourage  professional and personal growth of GLBT employees through professional and social networking activities, mutual support, and community service opportunities.

To Accelerate  the cultural change necessary to allow each employee to achieve full potential and to con-tribute to the business in a safe, equitable work environment, where each employee is valued & respected.

Although overlap is inevitable, we consider in essence five core committees to handle the four main areas of focus:

Ø        Community – Provide a means to meet and network with other GLBT or GLBT-Supportive employees.

Events Committee (includes Network Group Interface and Professional Development)

Ø        Visibility and Advocacy – End GLBT invisibility in the workplace; ensure all employees feel fully included in the workplace. Eliminate all forms of homophobia; encourage responsiveness to GLBT concerns.

Membership & Advocacy Committee and Community Outreach Committee

Ø        Education – Share information about issues facing GLBT employees; promote workplace awareness and sensitivity.

Education & Training Committee

The above four committees interact with the Communications & Funding Committee to get the word out in a cohesive manner.

(Details about these committees are found at the end of this survey.)

Do you want to learn more about GLBT Groups & Workplace Issues?:

1)      What are the Fortune 500 doing?

2)      What are Industry Peers doing?

3)      What are the Best of Class doing?

4)      What are Fundamental Peers doing?

5)      What are other business units doing?

6)      What can you do?  If not you, who?  If not now, when??

How can you become more involved?:

GlobalAge is an inclusive resource for GLBT, and all other employees. (Not just a social thing, very intense, very professional in meeting goals and focusing on what we want/need to accomplish to get us into the mainstream) Embrace, Engage, & Communicate / Successful Role Models / Mentoring & Coaching / Professional Development / Best-Practices

Several ideas for becoming more involved:

·          Join a committee (see descriptions & contact information below)

·          Champion a broad initiative

·          Volunteer to coordinate an event

·          Help execute a specific event

·          Suggest topics for future events

·          Contribute news and information to our external website and/or to our internal Support Central Community

·          ??? – let us know how you want to help!

Survey Preview 

This survey is intended to help increase awareness about GlobalAge and to encourage participation by offering programs and services members want.  It will provide us a better understanding of 1) what is important to you and 2) your level of interest in participating.

Demographics (any or all of these questions are optional)  

Name:  _________________________________________   

Current Role/Title:  ________________________________________

Business/Location  __________________________________________________________________   

Time at company __________

Self-identified as (circle closest one):    Gay    Lesbian    Bisexual    Straight Ally    Questioning    Two Spirit    Other ______________

Gender-identified as (circle one):  Male   Female   Intersex   Transsexual   Transgender   (If Transsexual or Transgender: MTF or FTM)

Age (circle one):  18-25    26-35    36-45    46-55    56-65  

Do you have children? Y/N    (If Yes, how many? ____)

Racial/ethnic-identified as (circle closest one):   

African Descent / Black    European Descent / White    Spanish/Hispanic    Asian    Middle Eastern    Pacific Islander    Native American

Past Participation

1. How did you hear about GlobalAge and how do you follow GlobalAge developments?  (Check all that apply)

____  Word of mouth from my direct manager or a co-worker.

____  Saw a GlobalAge flyer.  Where?  __________________________________________________

____  Recommended by an HR or Diversity representative.

____  It was mentioned in a business or staff meeting.

____  Saw the information at a Pride event or National Conference.  Which one?  _____________________________________

____  Website (www.GlobalAge.org)

____  Other (For example through another network group. Please explain) ______________________________________________________________________________

2a. Have you attended/participated in GlobalAge activities (e.g., meetings, pride event, AIDS Walk)?   Yes  /  No

2b. If Yes, which events:  _____________________________________________________________________________________

2c.  If No, please indicate the reason(s) you may have not attended/participated.  (Check all that apply)

____  Did not know the group existed or about the events

____  Too busy to attend any events or participate

____  Did not know how to join

____  Did not see any benefit

____  Timing of events did not work for me

____  Uncomfortable being part of a GLBT group at work

____  Afraid of some sort of negative job action or loss of work-related friendships if participated

____  Did not know anyone

____  Other (Please explain) ______________________________________________________________________________

Future Ideas and Participation

3. I would like for GlobalAge to: (Check all that apply)

_____  Provide opportunities to meet, exchange views, and socialize with other people (TGIFs, Dinner “out”, Holiday Potluck, etc.)

_____  Elevate the visibility of GLBT concerns and Educate about GBLT workplace issues

_____  Supply information regarding current GLBT workplace issues

_____  Help with career management & networking, professional development, mentoring & coaching, financial planning, etc.

_____  Other (Please specify) _____________________________________________________________________________

4. Which item(s) that you checked in Question #3 would you be willing to help coordinate?  ________________________________

5a. In general, what dates or times are best for you for GlobalAge T-con events?  (Check all the apply.)

_____  Weekdays (Mon-Fri)                                       ____  During workday lunch times

_____  Weekends (Saturdays)                                               ____  Before work (Early AM)

_____  Weekends (Sundays)                                                 ____  After work (Evenings)

_____  Other (Please specify) _____________________________________________________________________________

5b. In general, what dates or times are best for you for GlobalAge in-person events?  (Check all the apply and indicate your location.)

_____  Weekdays (Mon-Fri)                                       ____  During workday lunch times

_____  Weekends (Saturdays)                                               ____  Before work (Early AM)

_____  Weekends (Sundays)                                                 ____  After work (Evenings)

_____  Other (Please specify) ___________________________  Location___________________________________________

6. Are you willing to help with the leadership of GlobalAge including strategy and planning meetings, publicity, growing membership? Yes / No           If Yes, in what ways?  ___________________________________________________________________________

7.  Please describe any experience or involvement you have had with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) community. You may include any personal relationships (family members, friends, co-workers, etc.) which have shaped your viewpoint of GLBT issues. ___________________________________________________________________________

8.  Many corporations across the country have openly "out" employee organizations. Many GLBT employees do not feel safe in "coming out" as GLBT let alone pushing for acceptance in the workplace. What have you done (or would you do) to foster a climate to allow employees to feel safe being themselves? ___________________________________________________________________________

9.  Other comments and suggestions. ___________________________________________________________________________

Please return this page by email to: GlobalAge1@earthlink.net

GlobalAge respects its members’ confidences.  Thank you for your time and input !!!!

Here are several ideas for becoming involved in the committees:

Communications and Funding Committee:

Spread the word about events, ideas, members, and the value of GlobalAge!

·          Primary source of contact for questions regarding GlobalAge

·          Communicate GlobalAge events and information to members & Event Summaries

·          Drive cross-affinity group partnering and participation via information sharing

·          Facilitate exchange of ideas and Best Practices

·          Design posters, compose emails and create the GlobalAge advertising strategy

·          Funding: Each committee should provide a list of activities or events they would like to hold for the rest of the year; An estimate for the cost for each event should be provided and a rationale for why the company should fund it; benefits, link to GlobalAge objectives, etc.; As a team, we prioritize the events and determine recommended funding options (e.g. individual contributions, cosponsor with other group, etc). The team will then roll-up the total and develop ideas for raising funds or approach various group staff for funding commitments.

·          External Website and email address provide anonymity

Events Committee (includes Network Group Interface and Professional Development):

Be part of the team that brings exciting speakers and events to GlobalAge!

This committee will research member interest and investigate potential topics & guest speakers.

From this data, the committee will plan and execute events such as:

·          Make A Promise Benefit Dinner

·          Pridefest

·          AIDS Walk

·          And bring in speakers to help us:

o         Understand the critical professional development and career growth needs of GLBT employees

o         Identify experts in the professional development field who can relate to the specific needs of GLBT members

o         Plan workshops and seminars for GLBT members (ties in with Education & Training Committee)

Membership & Advocacy Committee:

Help us grow and become a network resource!

Work with Communications Committee to maintain, recruit and grow membership.

Present ideas:

*Participate in local pride and/or community events to raise awareness of the GlobalAge GLBT Affinity Group

*Benchmark other corporate GLBT groups on their advocacy initiatives

*Participate in local charity events (i.e. AIDS, breast cancer)

*Create an engineering/technical scholarship for GLBT high school seniors

Work closely with the Communications committee in developing advertising strategy and increasing membership in our group. 

1.  Assist communications committee in creating general awareness/support re: GlobalAge

2.  Assist communications committee in establishing easy methods for potential members to find information about meetings/membership

3.  Partner with advocacy committee to empower membership to create a difference inside the workplace by participation in visible events, feedback to leadership, and outreach to others at a grassroots level however they feel comfortable

Community Outreach Committee:

Establish a positive link between the community and GlobalAge by “giving back” through leadership, time, energy, knowledge, and personal commitment.

·          “Breast Cancer Forgotten Clusters” Speaker

·          Volunteer Opportunities:  Hook-up with Network groups, mentoring, Suggestions ?

Education and Training Committee:

·          Organize training programs

·          Speakers to college and university GSAs

·          Sponsor a Brown-Bag Seminar

·          Participation in Out & Equal Conference

Scope –

·          Internal to GlobalAge                        Implementation     Impact   

o         Benchmark other companies    Medium               Medium

o         What are we doing today

§          Forum for dealing with work situations and
possible actions/reaction    Easy             Med. High

o         What are our available resources – clearinghouse for
 benefits/issues/contacts                Easy             Medium

o         Mentoring; formal and informal       Easy             High

o         External Training and Conferences  Easy             Medium Low

·          External to GlobalAge

o         What are we doing today –

§          Resource for offering diversity training     Med Diff   High

§          Diversity plus                  Med Diff           High     

o         External Training and Conferences    Easy            Medium Low

o         Resource for HR; dealing with specific issues   Medium 

Actions -–

Mentoring

Recruit Mentors

Form for Mentors (intro)

“Mentor” Training

Identify Needs - Request form for Mentees (Confidential)

Discussion Forums – Workplace issues

4 forums a year for scenarios, specific topics

Topics/presenters TBD

Participants – HR, External, (other businesses, advocate groups, etc.),

Manager not a member (local and higher), Board member

Resource to HR

Mass introductory communication to HR community

Diversity

Assess current state of diversity training

Assess representation (comparable with other topics & need?)

Perform Gap analysis

Determine Ownership

Here are several things that other groups are doing or have done:

·          During that week we served punch, cookies, and flyers in the atrium, showed the Oscar Winning documentary, "The Times Of Harvey Milk", played "The Pronoun Game" which enabled you to enter a drawing for one of two company shirts. I received a lot of positive feedback from many associates that it was high time we had something like this.  I think many employees have friends or family of course that are GLBT, and when they hear an associate make a derogatory statement about someone at work, they feel that same "twinge". There were only a few rumblings, but I think we did a good job at putting ourselves out there, but staying low key enough that we didn't push anyone's limits; as respect goes both ways.

·          We haven't voted for officers as of yet, as we're trying to establish a regular meeting time, grow membership a little more, and establish better meeting attendance.

·          We've also discussed a social calendar, where we might meet somewhere on a weekend, say bowling, or a movie, where if someone may be nervous to go to a meeting on site, they may feel more comfortable showing up at a social gathering.

·          I'm hoping the communication I've had regarding the Out and Equal Meeting will be used for a best practice for next year, so that various businesses will send people, just as we do with affirmative action groups today.

A few general statements to consider for your emails regarding GlobalAge:

GlobalAge is a workplace network focused on professional development, career planning, and making a positive impact within not only the employees, but the view of the corporation as a whole.  The GlobalAge network is determined to reinforce the commitment to all dimensions of diversity, and also serve as a resource to leadership on issues regarding sexual orientation and inclusion.  With these values in mind, GlobalAge is on a continual mission to promote inclusion, rather than assimilation to these initiatives.

The GlobalAge organization remains as a resource for key initiatives, including diversity and globalization policies.  It remains as a vehicle for educating ourselves on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender cultural differences, and as an asset through increased retention of GLBT employees.  GlobalAge remains committed to creating a positive image of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities through participation and sponsorship of community events.  The GlobalAge organization is determined to remain a group devoted to the promotion of safe, supportive, and objective values.

GlobalAge is not a substitute for the management processes, nor does the organization serve as an intermediary for individual performance or personal issues.  GlobalAge does not serve as a policy development, political action group, or collective bargaining unit.

This Community serves as a resource to employees by providing answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.  The mission of the site is to support the vision of a diversified workforce through outreach activities around issues important to Gay and Lesbian employees. 

There are people from many and varied businesses and all levels of various businesses/companies.  Remember that the site is not just for the GLBT community, but for our straight allies as well.

As always, feel free to call to discuss GlobalAge or any other issue you have on your mind.  And PLEASE forward this on to anyone else you think may be interested.