Approximately 17% of workers say they feel more comfortable discussing gender identity or sexual orientation compared to last year, while 42% feel less comfortable, according to research from Monster. Half of workers say their company’s policies regarding protections for gender identity or expression and sexual orientation have remained the same since the beginning of the current presidential administration. Over half (57%) of workers say their companies don’t have an LGBTQ+ employee resource group or equivalent support group.
Organizations can help foster an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ employees through resources, visibility, and open dialogue. A quarter of workers believe it’s very important for workplaces to foster open discussion about LGBTQ+ identities and expression.
Companies can strengthen these following areas to enhance support, safety, and visibility for LGBTQ+ employees, helping to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace environment.
- Promote open discussion. Nearly half (48%) believe fostering open discussions about LGBTQ+ identities and expression is irrelevant in the workplace.
- Increase comfort and safety for LGBTQ+ employees. Nearly half (42%) of workers report feeling less comfortable talking about gender identity, expression, or sexual orientation at work compared to last year.
- Expand and communicate policy protections. Only 2% of workers say their company’s employee policies regarding protections for gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation have been expanded since the beginning of the current administration.
- Enhance visibility and access to LGBTQ+ support resources. Nearly 84% of workers either do not have or are unaware of existing LGBTQ+ ERGs at their company.
