LGBT staff need more support

LGBT staff lack support at work, according to a new TUC poll. The survey of around 1,000 HR managers finds that one in five UK workplaces do not have any policies in place to support their LGBT staff — and only one in three with LGBT policies have updated them in the last 12 months.


One in seven managers (15%) said they had responded to bullying, harassment or discrimination against one or more LGBT workers. Despite this, only half of managers admitted to having a policy prohibiting discrimination, bullying and harassment against LGBT workers in their workplace. 


Less than half (47%) said they have a clear reporting route for workers to raise concerns about such treatment against LGBT workers.


The same proportion told the TUC they have family policies (such as adoption, maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave policies) that apply equally to LGBT workers. 


Despite previous TUC research revealing a 16% LGBT pay gap, the TUC’s latest study also reveals that only one in eight of the workplaces polled actively monitor the pay gap between LGBT workers’ pay and non-LGBT workers’ pay. 


The TUC says government should introduce a statutory requirement for large employers to report on their LGBT pay gaps.


TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady said: “Lesbian, gay, bi and trans people deserve to feel safe and to be respected at work”. She described the fact that many workplaces don’t have specific policies in place to support their LGBT staff as “shocking”.