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Pink ceiling limits careers

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A UK survey of LGBT workers has found that most believe coming out will hurt their careers.

The 'Out Now 2008 Millivres Gay Market Study' is described as the most comprehensive market research study ever undertaken of the UK gay and lesbian community.

The survey was taken of readers to Britain's three largest LGBT publications and involved 1231 respondents. It was conducted between September 2007 and January 2008.

The vast majority of respondents - 82-percent of lesbians and 75-percent of gay men - said that being completely open about being gay to everyone at work is not a good idea.

One in eight said that being out as gay at work would "definitely" hold back their job promotion prospects.

The survey also found that 14-percent of respondents were harassed at work in the UK last year because they were perceived to be lesbian or gay.

Two out of three respondents rate their own employer as less than perfect in how they treat their own lesbian and gay employees.

According to Out Now the results show workplace gay equality and diversity policies are not filtering down into actual day-to-day life at work.

Ian Johnson, the CEO of Out Now said that despite a Workplace Equality Index created by the LGBT rights group Stonewall to monitor equality policies at companies the Out Now survey found that workers in companies that attained a high index rating still reported harassment and discrimination on the job.

"Widespread mainstream media reporting on the top 100 employers can make it seem like the problem of being openly gay at work is no longer an issue. These figures show that just is not the case.," said Johnson. "The fact that two out of every three respondents think their own employer treats gay staff less than perfectly is - in 2008 - rather depressing."

"Concealing your sexuality at work takes a lot of energy - energy that could be far more productively used in building better workplace relations - based on mutual trust and respect - between everyone at work," he said.
jcwelker

7 responses // Pink ceiling limits careers

  • Hmm...I've always been for coming out and being honest and truthful with yourself. What do you guys think? Do you think it honestly effects your chances at a job or with an employer if you come out?

    Thoughts?!
    woodywoodbeck
  • It depends on what industry and the company you work for. There have been corporations I've worked for that are uncomfortable if you are Out, too where you do feel that your job could be threatened or your career opportunity limited.
    jcwelker
  • basically it depends on your job. if you're working up the corporate ladder at a s&p 500 then yes, it probably will hurt you. the more old white men in charge, the better the chance its a bad idea
    diode
  • I'm for a world where being open is perfectly fine.

    Otherwise, living in the world we live in now, being closeted can definitely be the smarter move. Frankly, it comes down to resources. Many gay people don't have the resources to survive without their job by being open.

    It's sad, but it's simply the truth.
    VSiskos
  • I would love to believe being open about my sexuality would never have any repercussions. In reality, I live two lives. There's one where I'm a proud and active proponent of sexual equality. Where I hold my girlfriends hand without worrying about who sees or what anyone might say. Where I started the gay straight alliance in my tiny university in central Illinois. Then there's the other life where I'm in the process of become a teacher and will be entrusted with the emotional, social, and cognitive ability of countless of children. Where that role of a teacher is considered sacred among parents and other teachers. Where many people believe a teacher should be married and not have a "alternative" lifestyle. Where I carefully choose the topics I discuss in teacher's lounges and never talk about my personal life.

    I don't believe those two worlds can cross until there is legislation that will completely protect my rights to be open about both lives.
    ccarmichael
  • I haven't gone out of my way to conceal my sexuality at work. In most cases I've answered questions about my romantic life in an ambiguous way - 'person' / 'partner'... etc - and I think that by doing so most people could work out what I'm saying.

    It doesn't seem necessary to make the statement. I wouldn't be so worried about an employer's policies, more the reaction of colleagues. A work environment generally spans many generations - some people don't hold very enlightened views.
    lwhi
  • I think it is absolutly terrible you can not be who you are in a environment where you spend most of your day. I've out all my life in 100% of the places I worked. Unfortunatly, where I am right now I have a christian as a co-worker and a boss that has a bush picture hanging on the wall in the office.
    I'm keepin shut for the sake of my career. And this is just a spet on my way anyway.

    But I like the article. I'm currently writting a research paper for my MBA on LGBT issues in the workplace and this comes in handy.

    Thanks
    biancaearp

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