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By James Maloney
In recent years, the support and respect of those in the LGBTQ+ community has grown immensely, especially when it comes to in the workplace. While there are still many companies that are against hiring those who are within the LGBTQ+ community, it goes without saying that there has been a significant growth in the treatment that they are given now a days, which is a great step up.
There are always going to be, or have been, cases of discrimination in some workplaces and it has and can take a drastic tole on someone’s mental health, especially in a place where they have to make a living, some people have not even come out to their managers or colleagues at all in fear of the aftermath that may follow.
Statistics by McKinsey&Company have shown that 58% of women in the LGBTQ+ community have come out to their colleagues, the reason for the statistics being only half is because of the fear of gender discrimination, which also plays a very big role in discrimination within the workplaces. It was said that “why add anything else to make it more difficult?” in regard to the fact that there is a huge discrimination against women alone in a workplace where men are seen as “superior”.
For many people as well, coming out can be a hard thing to do, especially in the workplace where you are unfamiliar with a lot of peoples views and also their past experience of coming out may not have been the best, therefore may be a worrying thing to have to go through again.
Statistics again by McKinsey&Company reveal that only 37% of survey respondents said that they have felt uncomfortable after coming out at their work.
An interviewee had responded to this by bringing up an incident they experienced, they had said that:
“My colleague overheard a conversation when I was making plans for the weekend and figured out I’m gay.
“She lobbed bible verses over the cube, and since she was a senior person compared to me I thought my life was over”.
They went on to explain how their life was “a living hell” after they found out, and sadly this is a normal occurrence for those who have come out to their coworkers and bosses.
There has been questionable debate to if there has been a huge improvement in the respect towards LGBTQ+ employees, respect that they are entitled to and deserve to have.
A lot of companies are all for spreading equality all across the workplace, and over the years there has been incredible growth when it comes to the equality of LGBTQ+ employees, many companies or businesses have and continue to show the support of these employees and have made sure to make them feel welcome.
A presentation written by Marco Ziegler and Christine Rauh, both directors of the company Accenture, wrote in the presentation about the equal rights of LGBTQ+ employees all over the world.
They presented statistics that show that 77 out of 195 countries all over the world prohibit discrimination in employment against those who are LGBTQ+.
These results show great progress, even if it is a slow waiting game, the community has come a long way for the respect that they deserve, and the impact grows more every day.
57% of LGBTQ+ leaders say that their companies are very welcoming and open to the LGBTQ+ community, as they should be.
There are incredibly hardworking and dedicated individuals in the community, and their gender or sexual orientation does not change that fact that they are hard workers, and larger companies and businesses should see that it doesn’t affect their work, it’s the people around them that make it more difficult.
