This article is written by Gail Manley, VP of Diversity and Inclusion Strategy at Fidelity Investments, and contributor for the HR Exchange Network.
It seems like so long ago when we all packed up our desks and went home thinking we’d be working remotely for just a few days or weeks at most. Those weeks turned into months, and here we are nearly three years later. What I remember most about those early days was the discomfort many felt about this “new normal” working from a kitchen counter, corner of the bedroom, or for the lucky ones, a home office.
It seems like so long ago when we all packed up our desks and went home thinking we’d be working remotely for just a few days or weeks at most. Those weeks turned into months, and here we are nearly three years later. What I remember most about those early days was the discomfort many felt about this “new normal” working from a kitchen counter, corner of the bedroom, or for the lucky ones, a home office.
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Inclusive Spaces
When hosting hybrid meetings, inclusivity starts with eliminating multi-tasking, side conversations and for those joining remotely, turning on video cameras and being fully present and engaged. On a Zoom call, everyone takes up the same physical amount of space in a single square box. At Fidelity, we encourage people to include their pronouns in their Zoom name, so we could share our identity and encourage others to do the same.
As we shift to more in-person work, we’ll need to be more intentional about the visibility of our pronouns and use them as part of our introductions. When holding a hybrid meeting, introduce yourself by name, title, and pronoun to provide context and introductions to those in the group. Being referred to by the correct pronoun and having your name pronounced correctly is one simple way we can respect and celebrate our unique identities.