Building inclusive workplaces for LGBTQ+ and faith communities works in practice across a range of industries, including in companies as diverse as Tyson Foods, CVS Health, American Airlines, Dell, Intel, Target, Salesforce, Texas Instruments, PayPal, Accenture, Equinix, SAP, American Express, and many others. All of these companies have faith-oriented employee resource groups alongside LGBTQ+ groups.
For example, at Walmart, America’s largest employer, the faith resource group for their associates is FAVOR (Faith and Vocation: Opportunity and Reality). FAVOR’s mission is to connect, collaborate with and celebrate associates of all faiths to make a difference for their company, their customers and their communities. FAVOR’s purpose is to promote understanding, acceptance and inclusion by encouraging associates to appropriately integrate their faith at work.
They do this together with Walmart’s other associate resource groups, including PRIDE in ways that encourage mutual support and collaboration.
From Walmart:
Faith and Vocation: Opportunity and Reality (FAVOR)
Mission: We connect, collaborate & celebrate associates of all faiths to make a difference for our company, our customers, & our communities. FAVOR’s purpose is to promote understanding, acceptance and inclusion by encouraging associates to appropriately integrate their faith at work.
Vision: Bring your whole self to work. | Learn about other faiths from fellow associates. | Find resources about other cultures and beliefs.
Calendar Focus: The third Sunday in January is World Religion Day, followed by World Interfaith Harmony Week.
PRIDE Associate Resource Group
Mission: Be a source of PRIDE in the LGBT and ally community by: • Championing our customers • Counseling our business • Providing a community for our associates Key initiatives for PRIDE include inclusive policies, domestic partnership and transgender health benefits, self ID and pronoun pins.
Calendar Focus: June is LGBT + Pride Month.