Workplace disclosure fear remains

Workplace disclosure fear remains

Australian workplace diversity advocates are concerned about a US study showing LGBT employees do not feel comfortable disclosing their sexual orientation at work.

In a survey of almost 3000 LGBT employees conducted by the Center for Work-Life Policy, 48 percent of respondents reported being closeted at work, with this having substantial negative consequences on the business.

Diversity Council Australia (DCA) CEO Nareen Young said she fears LGBT employees in Australia are likely to suffer similar experiences at work to those highlighted in the US study, and urged employers to do more to help these employees feel more comfortable to be themselves at work.

“No one should have to hide who they really are at work for fear of being judged, harassed or excluded. In this day and age, there’s no excuse for homophobic behaviour,” she said.

Young said DCA had undertaken its own research related to LGBT employees in Australia which found 16 percent of gay men and lesbians saying they had been discriminated against at work on the basis of their sexual orientation.

“This is a high figure compared to the percentage of respondents overall who felt they had been discriminated against in the past year,” she said.

“These people were also more likely to strongly disagree or disagree that, in their job, people treat each other with respect, and less likely to indicate people are chosen for jobs on the basis of their competency.”

In 2010, DCA partnered with ACON and Stonewall UK to establish the Pride In Diversity program designed to assist Australian employers introduce human resources and diversity policies that specifically support LGBT employees.

“There’s much to be gained in terms of reputation, recruitment, retention, productivity and market share from ensuring your workplace is welcoming and inclusive of LGBT employees,” Young said.

“Progressive employers recognise they need to draw on talent from all sections of the population and create a workforce culture that embraces diversity.”

INFO: www.prideindiversity.com.au

You May Also Like

5 responses to “Workplace disclosure fear remains”

  1. Whilst I agree with everyone else we are not (thankfully) the US, in my situation, I don’t disclose because my boss is a bigot (and not just against gays).

    Even though the law protects me, it’s still pretty hard to prove. I’ve been in a situation previously where my fellow employees found out and they generally made life uncomfortable for me by not talking to me, not inviting me to social events, etc…. How can you possibly prove or sue for this? All they have to say is “We just don’t like her…”

    So, I’d rather avoid the comments behind my back and the backstabbing that I know my current employer is capable of. It’s a shame, because I miss out on bringing my partner to work events.

  2. The US has no real job protections on this front wheras we do (with the noteworthy recent Victorian exceptions). So they ~have~ to have higher numbers than we do, surely.

    Thankfully Nareen Young up there seems to be avoiding that trap and referring to ‘similar experiences’ to the actual responses, not getting hung up on the useless figure.

  3. Unfair to compare Australia with the US as its a totally different framework for anti discrimination and far fewer Australians have invisible friends.

  4. That is sad to hear, and this church inspired thuggery is heaped upon Gay gentle people, most of whom will give you the shirt off their back, put you up for the night, give you a good feed, when straights will turn you out into the cold.

    The other big elephant in the closet are Homophobic “mothers in law”, who deliberately set out to destroy your relationship with their son.

    I have known parents in ultra conservative Queensland who have complained to their MP’s, “that their son is living with a homosexual”. Churchie MP,s from the Deep North, who in turn have used our police service against us… (just like Joh did), to harass and intimidate their partner.

    How much longer do we have to put up with this torment before we take drastic action?

  5. Almost 50%. I am quite shocked by those figures. I suppose a lot of those people would work in private enterprise. I have worked for 25 years in the public service and have never encountered any discrimination. If it did happen, I would be quickly onto my management, the union and my solicitor if needs be! It simply pays to be ‘out’ because then all the questions and the gossip stops. It doesnt pay to not be yourself. I used to work with someone who was in the closet but the other staff used to joke all the time about that person. People soon twig when they see who you are out shopping or socially with! Word soon gets around – that is human beings. Finally, the person crossed the line and all that the female staff wanted to know was,”So what is your boyfriend like?” All of that suffering for nothing! If people don’t ask then it doesn’t matter but if they do, then it is a good opportunity to say, “Yes I am”