#LifeAtHireRight: Celebrating Our LGBTQ+ Community In 2022
This year we are excited to kick off Pride month talking to Dan Abernathy in our LifeAtHireRight blog. Dan is part of our employee-led Pride affinity group here at HireRight and he shares with us plans for the group and a little about himself!
Here at HireRight, our teams work hard to build the future of screening services while striving to put the customer first. Internally, we rally around a culture committed to collaboration, service-first mindset, sense of ownership, and other corporate values to help employers get it right – every time, everywhere. But what is it like to work here? And who are the employees behind our background screening and workforce solutions?
We are continuing to spotlight what #LifeAtHireRight means for our team members – in their words. During the month of June, we are featuring a series of blogs highlighting team members involved in our PRIDE employee affinity group – starting with Dan Abernathy, a Quality Assurance Specialist, and a team member with a leadership role in our PRIDE affinity group.
We talked to Dan about the PRIDE affinity group, his role at HireRight, and what diversity and inclusion mean to him.
Let’s learn a little about you! How long have you worked at HireRight and what is your role?
I’ve been at HireRight since July 2018. I started as a Verifications Researcher in the Transportation Department. January of 2021, I transitioned into my current role as a Quality Assurance Specialist within the Healthcare Department. My job is to ensure that our reports are correctly processed and provide valid and direct feedback to researchers doing Healthcare Verifications. I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, literally minutes away from HireRight’s office there, but since 2020 have been working from home.
What do you love most about your job, and your involvement with HireRight’s PRIDE affinity group?
As a Quality Assurance Specialist, I really enjoy getting to put my attention to detail to work and make sure we are submitting the most accurate reports that we can. I was very grateful for the opportunity to join the PRIDE Leadership team and work on facilitating change and spreading inclusiveness. I believe that representation is incredibly important, and even just showing up to a meeting may help someone realize they are not as alone as they think they are.
What is your role in the PRIDE affinity group, and how did you get involved?
I became involved in the PRIDE Affinity group about a year ago. I was invited to my first meeting, and everyone was playing a game of LGBTQ+ Jeopardy. I won that game (by several thousand points, LOL) and due to my knowledge of LGBTQ+ issues and history, was invited to join the leadership team. Since joining, I have worked to spread awareness of the group and hold special meetings and events to share our history and information about the issues we face today.
Would you share with us some of the activities that are planned around PRIDE month this year?
Our PRIDE affinity group has planned a plethora of activities this year for PRIDE, including fun and interactive meetings, special speakers, games, a drag brunch and so much more! We want to make sure there is something for everyone and that we truly show why PRIDE at HireRight is so important. One of my favorites will be a series about different LGBTQ+ Media and its impacts on our community. We look forward to seeing everyone during these very special events.
How do you feel that the PRIDE affinity group is making a difference here at HireRight?
I am so grateful to work at a company that values diversity and gives it an opportunity to grow. Feeling safe and appreciated at work is incredibly important and the fact that HireRight actively seeks to support the LGBTQ+ community is amazing. We have had many meetings to learn about our coworkers and seek understanding of parts of the community we are unfamiliar with, and I feel the PRIDE at HireRight group has really brought people together. For the future, I hope to see a greater range of interactions from our LGBTQ+ family here at HireRight. Everyone has a voice, and this is the place to use it for something positive.
What does inclusion and belonging mean to you?
To me, inclusion means that everyone has a seat at the table. No matter how small or marginalized the community is, it deserves to be heard and understood. Belonging is something that I think everyone is looking for, in one way or another. At the end of the day, we just want to feel appreciated for who we are and to feel like we are not going through life alone.
Why is diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) important for organizations?
DEI is critical for any organization that wants to be successful. We must lean into our coworkers who are different from us to learn and grow. It’s vital that everyone feels equal at work, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. Inclusion is how a company grows by making its employees feel like they can be themselves at work without fear of discrimination and treating our clients with the utmost respect.
Dan, is there anything else you would like to share with us?
I want to encourage everyone at HireRight to come join our PRIDE at HireRight Affinity group. It is a place for LGBTQ+ people, and their allies, to come together to figure out what we can do to make the world a safer and kinder place for us all. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions and thank you so much to everyone for working to make this such a welcoming place to work.
Be part of a diverse, global team dedicated to helping the world’s greatest companies – including your most loved brands – hire their talent with confidence. At HireRight, our team members are innovating together to build the future of screening services and personal data. Experiencing #LifeatHireRight means working with great people on inspiring ideas to help employers get it right – every time, everywhere. Check out our opportunities across the globe at HireRight Careers today!
Release Date: June 1, 2022
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HireRight is a leading provider of on-demand employment background checks, drug and health screening, and electronic Form I-9 and E-Verify solutions that help employers automate, manage and control background screening and related programs.