Bring Your Whole Self To Work was originally published on Power to Fly.
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Jacob Friedman accepted a job at Logicworks in part for the work-life harmony.
“I like to do a lot of things,” he says with a laugh. “I’ve been involved in the music industry for 16 years and DJing in the event business for 12.”
Jacob adds that he also recently graduated with his master’s in political science despite working in Logicworks’ technology department as as an azure platform developer.
“I knocked it out in two years flat, all while working full-time,” he says. “I really appreciate Logicworks’ respect for our lives outside of work.”
Beyond hobbies, this respect extends to an integral part of his identity: LGBTQIA+.
While he’s found an inclusive culture at Logicworks, Jacob wasn’t immune to discrimination early in his career. He recalls separating his personal identity from his work persona until understanding that the two are irrevocably intertwined — and for the better.
We caught up with Jacob to hear more about his journey toward authenticity in the workplace, along with his top tips for how others can bring their whole self to work.
Navigating identity early in his career
Jacob shares that navigating sexuality and gender identity in tandem with his early career growth was exponentially difficult — like a double-bind.
“You’re bound to figure out who you are while also bound to your responsibilities within your role and your place within a company. Trying to reconcile those binds with each other can be very difficult, especially if you work at a company where it doesn’t seem like people around you are supportive of you, your life, and what you may want for the future of your family,” he explains.
In fact, in his first roles, Jacob avoided discussing that side of his identity altogether. “I had this very strong separation between my personal and work life. And then I realized, as I got older, we are everywhere, and we exist in more people’s lives than some may think. So I would ask myself, ‘Do I even want to work for a company that doesn’t support that part of my life? Why would I want to do that?’
Previously, my mindset was, ‘I just need a job,’ and then it transitioned to, ‘I need a job that also supports me,’” Jacob explains.
Unifying multiple facets of his identity
Over time, Jacob started to merge the various sides of his identity in the workplace, understanding that being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community was inseparable from his professional persona.
“I started working for a company that was openly inclusive. There were people of all races and backgrounds, which differed from previous homogeneous work settings,” he says. “This changed my opinion on what I require from a company.”
When he was ready for the next step in his career, Jacob adjusted his interviewing tactics in order to evaluate the authenticity of a company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.
“Many people go into the job search with a mindset of needing a job that pays the bills. And yes, you do, but you also need something that works for you. Because if it doesn’t, then sooner or later, it won’t pay your bills,” he says.
Instead of letting the interviewees ask all of the questions, Jacob made the conversation a two-way street.
“I started asking if the interviewer could tell me about the diversity and inclusion policies and the work-life balance. I realized that if they couldn’t give me a proper answer within 30 seconds of being asked, there’s probably a problem in the company culture,” Jacob says.
Finding the right fit at Logicworks
Jacob recalls interviewing at 40-plus companies — but Logicworks was the clear fit.
“Not one of them stuck out to me the way Logicworks did,” he confirms. “Everyone I spoke to mentioned the various diversity and inclusion groups, and they all had great things to say about the people they worked with and the company environment.”
After two years in his role, Jacob can now attest to the power of these words in action. He calls out the human resources department, sharing that they consistently address his concerns and help him to feel protected.
“I once had some concerns over legal changes that affected the country at large, and they were there to let us know they would do anything they could as a company to protect us from situations and policies that could be harmful,” Jacob says. “While some other human resources teams could have said, ‘We don’t know what we’re going to do about that yet,’ they assured us they’d go the extra mile for us.”
Jacob also mentions the strong friendships he’s built during his time at Logicworks.
“Despite being remote, my team is all great friends. We look out for each other, and when we do get the chance to get together in person, we genuinely enjoy those moments,” he says with a smile.
5 tips for cultivating inclusion in the workplace
For those who may be struggling to bring their full self to the workplace, Jacob offers these five tips:
- Ask pointed questions during the interview process. Jacob encourages you to address the topics that matter to you as early as possible. “Make sure you get answers that satisfy you because, at the end of the day, this will be the company you’re working for. You don’t want to work for people who don’t support you,” Jacob explains.
- Be yourself. “I think so many of us have a work personality that differs from our genuine self,” Jacob says. “Unfortunately, this can come off as dishonest. People want to see who you really are and be able to engage with your true personality.”
- Shut down inappropriate conversations. “If you feel like a difficult conversation about your identity is becoming inappropriate, let that person know that they’ve crossed a line,” Jacob says. “You can’t allow there to be ambiguity. Some people genuinely don’t know, and they need to learn.”
- Don’t let anyone intimidate you for being a minority. “Go to colleagues or allies that can help you. Don’t keep it to yourself, because it will continue if you allow someone to maintain power over you,” Jacob says.
- Remember to have fun. “People always think work is so serious! But we spend half of our lives here. So have fun with what you do and the people you work with,” says Jacob. “Allow people to get to know the real you. It may not be as scary as you think.”
As we wrap up our conversation, Jacob reminds us that no matter how challenging it may feel now, there is hope on the horizon. “There are people who want to support you,” he says. “You’re not alone.”
