Fostering LGBTQ+ allyship to create a more inclusive workplace

At CGI, we are proud of the richness diversity brings to our organization and have several member resource groups across our operations that help foster an inclusive working environment. These groups exist to empower and engage our professionals with a common background, interest or purpose, and to raise awareness on how we can best understand and celebrate our differences.

Member resource groups play a key role in creating a more open and supportive workplace. They also are instrumental in helping to cultivate a culture of allyship.

Effecting change through allies

Fostering allyship is key to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning and other identities that form the LGBTQ+ community* within the workplace. Allies bring empathy and understanding into the wider organization, helping to ensure that everyone feels welcome, safe and supported, and bringing to life our core value of respect.  

Our UK operations has a number of member resource groups, including an LGBTQ+ network comprising not just members of the LGBTQ+ community, but also allies.

Awareness drives allyship

Recognizing that anyone can become an ally, the LGBTQ+ network organizes, promotes and sustains a number of initiatives throughout the year that are open to all.  This includes:

• Trainings on diversity and unconscious bias via CGI Academia, our online learning platform. Service desk teams also undertake training on gender identity, naming and inclusive language to help appropriately interact with clients.
• Regular social and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and events to give our professionals and partner organizations an opportunity to network and discuss LGBTQ+ milestones and challenges. This year, special themed quizzes, TV show discussions and talks from guest speakers were organized as part of our virtual Pride month celebration.
• Dedicated internal communication channels for our professionals to stay in touch, share ideas and receive support from each other.

Nurturing a culture of allyship offers each one of us an opportunity to help raise awareness, foster dialogue and create a more inclusive and equitable environment where everyone has a seat at the table.

*“+” refers to all gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the acronym. An example is Two-Spirited, which is a pan-Indigenous identity.