We tend to conceive the world in terms of dualities: good and bad, black and white, men and women. But the fact of the matter is that society is not just composed of two parts: it is much richer and this extends to the workplace. At Iberdrola México we are aware of this which is why we promote diversity and inclusion both inside and outside the organization.
In order to make progress in this task, we have partners that support Iberdrola México in different areas, including sexual diversity. The company ADIL, which promotes inclusion and respect for all people in the workplace, has accompanied and trained us to provide the IG with a workspace where different sexual orientations and gender identities have visibility. Angel Candia, a partner at ADIL, shared with us some perspectives that can be useful upon asking why it is important for organizations to open their doors to any person, being aware of sexual diversity to avoid any kind of discrimination and to ensure equality.
Doors open to talent
Talent is not based on gender and there are no professions made for men or for women. Therefore, any company that recognizes itself as an inclusive workplace needs to ensure that everyone is eligible for a position and can work with full freedom. To ensure this, Angel proposes clear and documented policies that transcend individuals and reach the institutional level, along with educational strategies focused on awareness and recognition of multiple life histories.
«The first and perhaps most important act is to recognize the life stories of all people and how they are not defined by a single variable, but by the many experiences they undergo. When a company recognizes the diversity of stories, it is prepared, first of all, to validate them and adapt to them,» he said, emphasizing the importance of encouraging all personnel to participate in the construction of spaces that are open to dialogue and safe for the workforce.
At Iberdrola México we are seeking to address these precise concerns to ensure that all the Iberdrola People can work in a safe place, with the certainty that they will be able to maximize their talent and achieve their personal and professional goals without barriers. This is why we recently defined ten undertakings that will help the company move ahead in terms of diversity, equality and inclusion: find about them here.
Beyond men and women
Sexuality and gender are concepts that have evolved over time, with numerous expressions of these concepts coming to light and affording people who identify with them a place in the midst of a society that is also growing. As Angel points out, «when we talk about gender, we are talking about social agreements; people agree, usually tacitly and not so much explicitly, on what it means to be a man or a woman. This classification is always, or almost always, linked to biological sex».
You have probably heard expressions such as non-binary or gender fluid people and perhaps these terms have caused confusion, given that they are new concepts used to define the broad spectrum of sexual diversity. At Iberdrola México we believe that respect without conditions or excuses is crucial, as this is a basic individual right.
When asked about the importance of respecting others, Angel is categorical with no half measures: «You may or may not agree with someone in ideological terms, but what is not acceptable is to question the validity of people’s existence. Respect is therefore either absolute or inexistent. The premise is very simple: every right for every person».
With this in mind at Iberdrola México we have reinforced our policies of inclusion and «zero tolerance» for discrimination against any individual, whether a job seeker, a prospective client or a member of any of our stakeholders.
We are aware that there is still a long way to go because sexual and gender diversity covers a broad spectrum. And as the LGBT+ alphabet grows, it will be necessary to continue learning to respect and value people’s freedom to be, to develop personally and professionally and, very importantly, to love.
Angel understands this well: «I firmly believe that, in the not too distant future, we will understand that there is little to be gained by forcing people to fit in. On the contrary, we gain a lot when we let them discover and build their own identity in freedom. For me, either the future is non-binary or there definitely won’t be one».
