LGBT Network to host Workplace Summit in Hauppauge

The LGBT Network will be hosting its second Workplace Summit three years after it first launched the educational event.

The summit, scheduled for Wednesday at the LGBT Network’s Hauppauge headquarters  at 125 Kennedy Dr., will feature six presentations and educational workshops on how employers can create a more inclusive workplace supportive of LGBTQ employees. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“It’s going to be great to be back in-person for the first time in three years,” said David Kilmnick, president and founder of the LGBT Network.

Since the Network held its first summit in 2019, Kilmnick said businesses have only become more invested in making their workplace cultures more attractive and inclusive, especially as many continue to struggle to fill openings.

“People are now looking at work differently and they’re looking at the culture of their workplace and inclusion more so, I think, than back in 2019,” he said.  

“The people who are looking for jobs right now are a lot more selective,” Kilmnick said. “So, companies that really move forward with their inclusion of LGBT employees and affinity groups are going to have the leg up in recruitment.”

The event, which will also be streamed online, is expected to draw more than 125 in-person attendees and upward of 50 online participants, he said.

Companies that will be sharing their tips on creating a more diverse and equitable workplace include Dime Savings Bank, The Bountiful Company, Broadridge, PSEG, Henry Schein and National Grid.

Ultimately, Kilmnick said the goal of the summit is to create more opportunities and acceptance for Long Islanders in the LGBTQ community.

Nearly 50% of all LGBT employees in the United States are closeted while at work, according to a 2018 survey by the Human Rights Campaign.

Registration for in-person attendees is $100; virtual participation is $80. For information or to register, go to LGBTNetwork.org, or call 631-665-2300.