LGBT+ Inclusion @ Work 2022: A Global Outlook
Deloitte‘s inaugural LGBT+ Inclusion @ Work: A Global Outlook survey aims to better understand the experiences of LGBT+ employees in the workplace. The pulse survey identifies leading practices that support LGBT+ inclusion at work, barriers to inclusion and the importance of a truly inclusive ‘everyday’ culture when it comes to LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace.
The past few years have seen many organizations incorporate a focus on LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and more) inclusion within their HR and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) strategies, with many employers making visible and vocal commitments to LGBT+ inclusion both internally within their organizations and externally through support of Pride events and beyond.
While this visible and vocal commitment is a positive move, is it impacting the lived experience of LGBT+ employees when it comes to their ‘everyday’ lived experience in the workplace? To understand this, Deloitte surveyed 600 members of the LGBT+ community currently in employment* across various sectors in 12 geographies and territories around the world. The goal was to provide a snapshot of the lived experience of LGBT+ people in the workplace across these countries to better understand their daily realities, what organizations are getting right, and what can be done better.
* Deloitte employees were not polled as part of this survey
Overall, employers are taking steps on LGBT+ inclusion
But LGBT+ employees continue to experience non-inclusive behaviors at work, both in the office and virtually
And many LGBT+ employees are not comfortable sharing their sexual orientation with the majority of their colleagues
Less than half of those whose gender identity differs from that assigned at birth are open about their gender identities to the majority of colleagues at work
Allyship is fundamental to helping LGBT+ employees feel able to be out at work
LGBT+ Inclusion @ Work 2022
As the findings illustrate, progress has been made in incorporating LGBT+ inclusion within many organizations’ talent and HR priorities. This includes implementing many of the top-level policies and strategies to support LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace.
However, while the majority of respondents reported that this focus on LGBT+ inclusion translates into meaningful support within the workplace, far too many respondents also reported experiencing a range of non-inclusive behaviors and many are reluctant to be out at work about their sexual orientation or gender identity beyond their immediate teams.
These findings show that, while progress has been made, there is work still to be done when it comes to truly embedding LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace – most notably, with the everyday culture required to enable all LGBT+ employees to truly thrive.
