Diversity in the workplace is integral to a company’s success — but hiring candidates with a wide range of backgrounds is just a start. Companies must ensure they cultivate follow-through with the resources and support necessary to make team members feel comfortable and empowered in their roles, amplifying their perspectives.
At fintech company Addepar, for example, support for the LGBTQIA+ community coalesces through its affinity group, AddePride.
“The AddePride mission is to provide an inclusive environment that encourages Addepeeps to bring their true authentic selves to work daily,” Senior Solutions Consultant Christy Hastings said.
Hastings also singled out a few of the other ways that the Mountainview, Calif.-headquartered organization — which announced a $117 million Series E last fall — fosters a supportive setting. Take, for example, anonymous surveys that let team members “share their true thoughts on Addepar’s culture” and D&I training, among other initiatives.
Internally, what does your company do to support LGBTQIA+ employees?
At Addepar, we embrace a culture of acceptance with the full support of leadership. We’ve formed an AddePride affinity group, run by members of our LGBTQIA+ community and allies. The AddePride mission is to provide an inclusive environment that encourages Addepeeps to bring their true authentic selves to work daily, and to foster an accepting environment within the firm, in our communities and in our interactions with clients. Approximately 25 percent of the Addepar community is active in the AddePride affinity group.
For new parents, Addepar offers a generous 10 weeks of caregiver leave regardless of employee gender, tenure or how the child is welcomed into the family. We also offer a variety of training programs throughout the year to help promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
And you can’t forget the swag. Last year, we sent rainbow-filled boxes to our AddePride members to celebrate Pride!
At Addepar, we embrace a culture of acceptance with the full support of leadership.”
How do you work with LGBTQIA+ employees to ensure they feel supported in the workplace?
Each year, Addepar conducts an engagement survey to anonymously gauge satisfaction within the workplace. This offers all employees the opportunity to share their true thoughts on the Addepar culture. To further support LGBTQIA+ employees, the AddePride affinity group sponsors a multitude of events year-round, which are open to everyone. The diverse range includes happy hours, storytime for those with children, fundraisers, Peloton group rides, movie-of-the-week suggestions, blog posts, songs of the summer, town hall presentations, an employee-curated art gallery, educational facts and figures and more. We obviously know how to have fun.
In addition to events, Addepeeps are encouraged to participate in the AddePride Slack channel and provide feedback in AddePride-sponsored surveys. Finally, as part of the AddePride 2021 kickoff, subcommittees were created to allow all Addepeeps to feel more empowered and involved in the idea generation and planning.
The LGBTQIA+ Community in Tech
Externally, how does your company support the LGBTQIA+ community?
In 2020, AddePride adapted to the rise of remote events and completed two fundraising events to benefit the LGBTQIA+ community. The AddePride team raised $2,863 for AIDS Walk NYC by virtually walking to support the cause. In November, we celebrated Transgender Awareness week — in partnership with our BOLD affinity group — raising $1,360 to benefit the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, with the help of employee-donated raffle prizes. We are currently in the planning phases for additional community outreach activities, including a virtual volunteer opportunity and fundraising event for 2021.
