As we near June 1st, marking the start of Pride month around the world, it’s time to reflect on the current state of LGBTQ+ support in the workplace.
Below you will find statistics of LGBTQ+ representation from recruitment to senior level, and how differing support impacts upon these individuals across the US and the UK.
Recruitment:
- 18% of individuals who were looking for work said they were discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity while trying to get a job – Stonewall
- 1 in 5 UK workers say they would not work at a company that does not address or support its LGBTQ+ employee population – Glassdoor
- 65% of transgender employees have decided on where to work to avoid discrimination – Glassdoor
Workplace wellbeing:
- More than a third of LGBTQ+ staff have hidden that they are LGBT at work for fear of discrimination – Stonewall
- Half of LGBTQ+ people surveyed have reported some form of workplace discrimination or harassment because of their sexual orientation or gender identity – Center for American Progress (Cap)
- 24% of individuals had accessed mental health services in the 12 months – UK National LGBT Survey
- 11% had experienced someone disclosing that they were LGBTQ+ without their permission – UK National LGBT Survey
Seniority:
- While LGBTQ+ women make up 2.3% of entry level employees, they represent only 1.6% of managers – McKinsey
- LGBTQ+ women of colour are eight times more likely than straight white men to report being the only one of their given gender identity, sexual orientation, or race. – McKinsey
- In the US, only 26 of the 5,670 board seats on Fortune 500 companies are held by people who are openly LGBTQ+ – OutLeadership
Support and training:
- More than a fifth of non-LGBTQ+ employees do not feel educated enough or equipped with the proper knowledge to be an ally in the workplace – Glassdoor
- 44% of LGBTQ+ workers said their reported conflicts had not been resolved at all – CIPD
- Only 1 in 3 companies who have LGBT policies have updated them in the last 12 months – TUC
- More than one-third of LGBTQ+ employees have left a job during their lifetime because of how they were treated by their employer based on their sexual orientation or gender identity – Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy
While there has been significant progress towards LGBTQ+ representation and training in the workplace, it’s clear that there’s still a long way to go. Learn more about how to transform your company’s diversity support in our previous blog on 7 ways to create an LGBTQ+ friendly workplace.
At Druthers, it’s our mission and our passion to empower organisations to find the best person to make an impact on their work, from a diverse shortlist of remarkable talent. Get in touch with us to find out how your business can make a positive change to your hiring and retention processes.
