Over a quarter of employees who identify as LGBTQ+ are considering quitting their job and moving to a more inclusive company, according to new research conducted by Deloitte.
Drawing on the experiences of almost 5,500 workers across thirteen countries, the research found that the proportion of people considering moving to a different employer is even higher among those who identify as LGBTQ+ and as ethnic minorities. In that demographic, some 52% of respondents said that they were thinking about changing employers.
Consistent with these findings, the research also established that only 43% of respondents said that they felt comfortable being out about their sexual orientation at work, and only 47% said the same for gender identity.
Another third say they are comfortable being out at work, but only with a select group of people. Of this group, some three in 10 respondents described themselves as feeling uncomfortable but trying to be more open.
“When organizations foster diversity and show their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion, it can have a significantly positive impact on their people’s experiences in the workplace,” said Jackie Henry, managing partner for people and purpose at Deloitte. “However, the findings show that organizations still need to do more to provide a safe environment in which LGBTQ+ employees feel able to be themselves at work.”
Deloitte found that respondents tended to feel more comfortable being out at work the more senior they were. Only 37% of junior employees said that they were comfortable being out with anyone about their sexual orientation versus 43% of mid- and senior employees and 51% of those in leadership positions.
Allyship, the research found, was also—perhaps unsurprisingly—extremely important to workers. Some 61% of those out at work to at least some people about their sexual orientation said that allyship had encouraged them to come out.
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