One forward-thinking Toronto company has launched a powerful campaign to promote workplace inclusiveness and celebrate Pride.
Their message is clear: the workplace should offer a comfortable place to sit – for everyone.
Klick Inc’s #ASeatForAll campaign is a virtual sit-in whereby social media users post a seated selfie of themselves at work. Since it began on June 8, the campaign has gained quick traction, especially in the wake of the tragedy in Orlando.
People like Ben Mulroney, acclaimed teen cancer researcher Jack Andraka, the original voice of Siri (Susan Bennett) and hundreds of other people sitting in support of LGBT have embraced it.
The campaign rallies behind the high percentage of LGBT employees who are still afraid to come out in the workplace. It also raises funds for The 519 – Canada’s largest LGBTQ Community Centre – and its workplace inclusivity programs.
“We were shocked to learn in today’s day and age how many LGBT employees still feel that they need to hide who they are work,” said Leerom Segal, co-founder and CEO of Klick Inc. “We believe everyone should feel comfortable being themselves at work. So we’re asking people to take a stand – or in this case, a seat – to support workplace inclusion and celebrate Pride.”
Sadly, the stats speak for themselves.
According to a 2014 study by The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 53 per cent of employees in Canada and the U.S. hide who they are in the workplace; 35 per cent feel they have to lie about their personal lives to co-workers; and 62 per cent experience negative jokes about their identity at work.
For each of the first 5,000 people who join the virtual sit-in by July 3, Klick will donate $1 to The 519 and its workplace inclusion programs.
The campaign kicked off with a thought-provoking video spot and a series of outdoor photo-ops, giving pro-active Torontonians the opportunity to join the sit-in on the city’s downtown streets. It involved some solid Instagram material: a Herman Miller Aeron office chair painted by celebrated Los Angeles-based filmmaker and street artist Mr. Brainwash, known for his pop-graffiti creations.
Of course, this isn’t the first time that Klick Inc. impressed us with a forward-thinking company project. For example, even their December 2012 company holiday video went viral, capturing the attention of major international news outlets like CNN. Hopefully, their #ASeatForAll campaign will meet similar success.
Join the movement yourself by taking that perfect selfie (after at least a dozen of tries, of course) and tagging them #ASeatForAll through July 3rd. The tagged photos will automatically be uploaded to the sit-in at ASeatForAll.com.
The #ASeatForAll campaign runs through the end of Pride Month on July 3rd.
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