The University is delighted to announce it will be launching an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Staff Network Group on Monday 17 February with the support of Stonewall Scotland. The University recently became a Stonewall Diversity Champion to demonstrate its commitment to LGBT equality. By establishing a Network Group the University hopes to provide a forum for discussion and networking.
The LGBT Staff Network will hold its first meeting from 12.30pm to 1.30pm on Monday 17 February in Committee Room 2, University Office. All LGBT staff are very welcome to attend.
If you have any queries about the group, or would like to speak to someone in advance, please feel free to contact Janine Chalmers, Equality and Diversity adviser (ext. 3883 or email janine.chalmers@abdn.ac.uk); or Neva Haites, Vice-Principal for Equality and Diversity (email n.haites@abdn.ac.uk). We would be delighted to hear from you.
As a sandwich lunch will be provided, it would be helpful if you could confirm your attendance for catering purposes only to janine.chalmers@abdn.ac.uk by Monday 10 February at the latest.
However, you are also free to attend without providing your name in advance. Please also be assured that all discussions and attendee names will be strictly confidential.
Network groups have become an established way of helping organisations promote diversity, and Stonewall studies have shown that staff who can be open about their sexual orientation at work are more likely to be happy at work, feel able to be themselves, and thus be more productive, capable and loyal than those who cannot. In addition, the University’s 2013 Staff Equality and Diversity survey indicated that there is interest in a University of Aberdeen LGBT Staff Network.
Network groups can help staff support each other, share information and work together to improve the workplace for everyone. The form that the network group will take will be largely decided by the members. Other LGBT network groups in the sector provide a social support network for LGBT staff. Some network groups raise awareness of LGBT issues in their institution and the wider community, while others focus on commenting on LGBT issues in employee policy.