🌈LGBTQ+ in the service industry - Jonny Norie

The hospitality industry has been a LGBTQ+ community supporter and top employment sector for years and it globally recognises the need to change the way employers operate globally in order to be more diverse. This series of interviews will be looking into the career and inspirations of top industry leaders/figures to celebrate one of the most diverse employment sectors. 

Jonny Norie, Account Director - Gather & Gather 

What does “diversity” mean to you? 

Apart from the obvious benefits to organisations around a having a diverse workforce - but let us forget about companies’ profits for now. It means a couple of things personally. Firstly, it means that the minority groups that make up a diverse workforce / community can be heard as a collective voice to drive change. I have always thought that if the minority stuck together then the majority would have nowhere to hide. Bit dramatic but you get my point. Also, life is just more interesting when you live in a diverse world. What on earth do straight, white middle-aged men talk about? 

During your career in the service industry, what has made it possible for your to be a successful leader and at the same time, a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community? 

This is a difficult one to answer personally. I describe my closet door more of a cat flap over the years, peeking my head outside to see if the coast was clear and if I was brave enough to leap through. Depending on the organisation I often popped back to the other side. I never wanted to be an out proud member of the LQBTQ+ community especially at work, I was a ‘keep your head down’ kind of guy. After a personal tragedy one of the Exec where I worked spotted that I needed something to take my mind off what was going on and I was asked to work with Sodexo’s Global Pride team, this was to get their UKI Pride Network off the ground. It was an amazing experience and the exposure to the Global business and the UKI exec really made me decide that being an out, proud, and visible senior role was important and rather nice. Not only that, but it was also going to be the only role in my career that would have such a positive impact on so many peoples personal and professional lives. So, my advice is put yourself forward to raise your profile and get yourself a senior sponsor to champion you. 

Do you have recommendations for any LGBTQ+ people entering the employment/business world who might face situations of discrimination? 

Thankfully, situations of discrimination are getting less and less but I still hear of some horror stories. My first bit of advice is to make sure that you do your research into the culture of an organisation. Check that it delivers on its D&I strategy. Ask recruiters for feedback from previous placements. I have been in situations where all the wording is there, but it does not translate into behaviour. If you are facing discrimination currently, try and work out if it is an individual that is driving the poor behaviour and not the culture. If it is an individual document everything, dates, times etc and take it to HR. Why should you leave because of an individual? If it is the culture, then plan your escape. You will never win, so look after your mental health and get out. 

Have you noticed any differences from a best practice in the business perspective, as an LGBTQ+ person, between when you started compared to now? (policies, support…)?

When I started in business there was no such thing as D&I so being out at work for me was out of the question. So, I think it’s fair to say there were no policies on anything so it’s hard to compare against with regards to best practice from then until today. What I would say is that over the last few of years I have seen a huge shift in company cultures where the senior leaders live the values that ensure equality is forefront day in day out, they do what they say they are going to do. I think that it is important that we level the playing field between all colleagues to ensure everyone can bring their whole selves to work. Easier said than done when the SLT act more important than the people who put money in the till, we’re all equal after all right? 

Has anything in your professional career (or maybe personal life) that has made you think or say, “let’s change this for the community?” 

Not really, I think I am more the kind guy that likes to champion the people that drive change. Tend to do that at work to be honest, I always say to my team that my role is to create an environment for them to flourish, so happy to be on the support team. 

Have there been any LGBTQ+ organisations, groups or places that have been part of your journey?

Yeah, when at Sodexo I was one of the drivers to push the organisation to get involved with LGBTinFM. I could see the long-term benefit of it and was determined to keep our foot in the door. I remember being in one the first meetings where we were all tasked with coming up with the name. I am useless at that type of thing so it has nothing to do with me just so you know. I cannot tell you how proud and pleased I am to see it flourish; they have done an amazing job and are making a real impact in the LGBTQ+ FM community. If you are in FM, take a look and become a supporter. 

What do you think could improve for the LGBTQ+ community in the employment world? 

More support for the Trans community, there just anywhere near enough which is disgraceful. Connected to that is specific mental health support for our community. You would be surprised sometimes how straight specific it is so more work there for sure. I also think that there needs to be more training for managers to understand more about how our community has or may struggle with mental health more than most. I have often had conversations with people explaining exactly what growing gay is like. It can be very tough as we know but just because Graham Norton is on the telly does not mean it is all sequins and laughing now.

If you would like to take part as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, get in touch with Krishnan (krishnan@corecruitment.com)