Sexual Minorities In The Workplace
Different groups of people receive different treatments in their work environment. Besides minorities being treated wrongfully, sexual minorities also face discrimination and harassment. Employees who have a sexual orientation or someone who is close to someone with a sexual orientation, experience harassment, negative employee action, or denial of certain benefits. Sexual Orientation Discrimination — Workplace Fairness states that “sexual orientation discrimination has been part of the workplace in America for decades, and while federal, state, and local laws, as well as increased social awareness have improved the situation dramatically, many people who are not heterosexual still face obstacles at work related to being gay, bisexual, asexual, and pansexual.” Employees could be discriminated because of someone else’s perception of their sexual orientation, whether it is correct or not.
Sexual orientation discrimination includes not being hired, disciplined, not promoted, and being fired. Some companies go as far as clearly discriminating those that identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual in their policies. They may also receive write ups without a basis and they could be wrongfully terminated. Along with discrimination, they experience harassment from their co-workers. They are forced to hear sexual jokes, statements concerning proper behavior, gestures, or receive hostile comments. These actions can come from co-workers, customers, or supervisors. The discrimination they face affects the status of their job, health benefits, and their working environment.
Frontiers | Gender, Sexual Orientation, and Workplace Incivility: Who Is Most Targeted and Who Is Most Harmed? | Psychology (frontiersin.org) says that “..interpersonal discrimination towards members of oppressed social groups has become covert and subtle rather than overt and experiences lead to negative outcomes for targets.” Sexual minorities are the most harmed when it comes to incivility in the workplace. Studies show that students who are of sexual minority receive more incivility in schools than those who are in a work environment.
No matter the extent of the discrimination they face, it can still cause a negative reaction for individuals. Harassment can lead to an individual being withdrawal, mental health problems, and possible drinking problems. Research also shows that sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace also leads to a heightened distress of one’s psychological level.
With the progress of LGBTQ rights over the years, some companies have supported them by making public gestures. Hundreds of top brands have became sponsors of annual Pride events. Companies are continually making critical decisions about recruitment practices, marketing that they embrace LGBTQ rights, and employee resource groups. Although, they have made progress, they still have challenges that persist. How the LGBTQ community fares in the workplace | McKinsey is an article that researched the elements of the LGBTQ community in the workplace.
Trans and LGBTQ women often get the worst treatment. Women in this community are very underrepresented. They are represented less than women who are in workforce and do not belong to that community. They experience a greater amount of sexual harassment along with discrimination because of their orientation and gender. Trans employees also face challenges that hinder their career performance and promotion.
Both groups are very underrepresented. These groups tend to feel isolated at work when there is no one like them in the room. If they have the reason to, they will represent the entire community when they are the only one like themselves at work. This can lead to higher stress levels and a sense of exhaustion. Research shows that women of color that belong to the LGBTQ community, are eight times more likely to be the only one of the community in an office than a straight white male. LGBTQ women in general are twice as likely to be the only one of the community in the office and report it, but seven times more likely to say it than white men. Bisexual women are more likely to experience hostile remarks about them or people that are like them.
Women of this community seem to have it harsher than men that belong to the community. They feel isolated and as if they cannot talk about themselves or their home life. They have to prove themselves in the workplace by giving evidence of their work ability. They sometimes feel the pressure to “play along” when it comes to sexual humor or actions. LGBTQ women sometimes become the target of sexual jokes and harassment. Some women of this community tend to use their challenges as motivation for gaining an executive or superior role. They aim for this position so that they can be a role model for other people that are like them.
Trans employees are more likely than LGBTQ women to report that they are the only one in their work environment. In a work environment, trans workers lack the responsibility to hire, attain a management role, and evaluation responsibilities. They see what they identify as and their sexual orientation as a big hinderance to their advancement in the workforce.
If all companies and organizations changed their policies and did not see their sexual orientation as a problem, there would be little to no discrimination or harassment.
