JUST half of LGBTQ+ employees in the UK feel safe disclosing their sexual orientation to coworkers, according to a new Deloitte study called ‘Deloitte Global 2023 LGBT+ Inclusion @ Work‘.
The responses from 5,474 LGBTQ+ workers in 13 different countries demonstrate that many businesses have room to increase their goals when it comes to showing their employees that they are committed to LGBTQ+ inclusion.
One-third of respondents who identify as LGBTQ+ are interested in switching jobs with an employer who is more accepting of their community; this percentage is much higher for respondents who identify as members of an ethnic minority.
The results also show that many LGBTQ+ workers have concerns about coming out at work and encountering inappropriate behaviours like harassment and microaggressions.
Jackie Henry, managing partner for people and purpose at Deloitte, said: “Creating a truly inclusive culture, where everyone feels welcomed and respected at all times, is important not just during Pride Month but all year round. When organisations foster diversity and show their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion, it can have a significantly positive impact on their people’s experiences in the workplace. However, the findings show that organisations still need to do more to provide a safe environment in which LGBTQ+ employees feel able to be themselves at work.”
The study also looks at the advantages of employers showing their support for LGBTQ+ inclusion and the chances that organisations must enhance the working conditions for LGBTQ+ people.
Some LGBTQ+ people keep their private life confidential, from not using pronouns when talking about relationships to completely omitting their weekend plans when speaking with co-workers.
Despite employees’ reluctance to discuss any aspect of their personal lives at work (49 per cent in the UK vs. 37 per cent globally) and worries about being treated differently (43 per cent of UK respondents vs. 39 per cent globally), the study found that UK LGBTQ+ employees are more comfortable coming out at work (52 per cent in the UK vs. 43 per cent globally).
The more senior a member of the LGBTQ+ community is within their company, the more probable it is that they will feel at ease coming out to anybody.
Across all levels of seniority, UK respondents are more likely to be out than their international counterparts (45 per cent in UK junior posts vs 37 per cent globally; 60 per cent in UK senior roles vs 51 per cent globally).
Companies in the UK are also more eager to participate in Pride Month than businesses overseas, with 52 per cent of employees reporting that their employers participate, compared to 37 per cent internationally, according to Deloitte.
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