For many in the GLBT community, being ‘out’ at work conjures up fears of being harassed or penalised by their managers, colleagues or both. However, a ground-breaking program is set to help Australian workplaces become a lot more accepting and inclusive…

Once upon a time – actually less than 20 years ago – being ‘out’ about your sexuality at work was considered one of the most risky things a GLBT person could do.

Despite all the skills a person offered an employer, to be ‘out’ at work meant risking not only homophobia and social ostracism, but was also grounds for dismissal in some workplaces.

Thankfully, times have changed.

These days, wide-ranging anti-discrimination laws now make most forms of injustice or prejudice against a person on the basis of their sexuality illegal.

Nevertheless, the fear of being bullied and harassed at work remains a concern for many GLBT people.

According to a study by the Victorian WorkCover Authority, about 15 per cent of all people have experienced some form of bullying in the workplace.

However, for people from the GLBT community, the figure is much higher.

Additional research shows a staggering 60 per cent of GLBT people experience some form of harassment at work during their careers.

That’s four times the rate of the general population.

While not all workplace harassment of GLBT people is related to their sexual orientation, these figures suggest that there is an association between sexual orientation and workplace harassment.

Unfortunately, this kind of prejudice-related abuse, harassment and intimidation can have a significant impact on the mental health of many GLBT people and contributes to the GLBT community having higher rates of anxiety, depression, substance abuse and self harm than the broader community.

To address this issue, ACON has been working with Diversity Council Australia and London-based GLBT advocacy group Stonewall UK to develop a program which aims to help employers create a GLBT-friendly workplace.

To be launched in early 2010, the program is called Pride In Diversity and is based on Stonewall’s highly successful Diversity Champions workplace program which boasts a membership of more than 500 British companies.

Here in Australia, the Pride In Diversity initiative has already captured the interest of a broad range of leading local corporations and organisations which have signed up as foundation members of the program.

Like its UK counterpart, Pride In Diversity is all about bridging the gap between GLBT employees and management by helping companies and businesses introduce human resource and diversity policies that specifically support GLBT staff.

“The treatment that many GLBT people experience in the workplace can range from negative comments through to open abuse,” says the program’s recently appointed director Dawn Hough who previously headed up the diversity function at ING Australia.

“This causes many GLBT people to feel uncomfortable in their workplace which can significantly impair their performance.

“As a result, many GLBT people end up being in the closet while they’re at work which can lead to an increase in anxiety or depression as they constantly have to edit their lives.

“It’s a very serious issue and employers across the board really need to be taking action to ensure they provide a sufficient duty of care.

“Pride In Diversity will help businesses form a framework of polices and practices which support people to be ‘out’ in the workplace and which allow GLBT people to know there are no disadvantages to them being open about their sexuality.

“Also, lots of companies and businesses these days are good with issues regarding age, disability, ethnicity, gender and religion.

“Our question is if they can be so good in these areas, then what can’t they also provide a comparable service for GLBT people in the workplace?

“So it’s as much a question of fairness and equity in the workplace as it is an issue about the health and wellbeing of GLBT employees.

“Pride In Diversity is designed to help employers address both these issues by making their workplaces much more equitable, accepting and inclusive.”

Dawn says a workplace which is open to GLBT people and supports its GLBT staff stands to gain significant benefits.

“By introducing measures which specifically support GLBT employees, those employees then feel more valued and respected.

“This improves their mental health which, in turn, leads to greater performance and productivity in the workplace. It’s a win-win situation for everybody involved.”

In fact studies from Stonewall UK reveal that GLBT people who are ‘out’ at work are 30 per cent more productive in the workplace, and companies with supportive policies experience higher retention rates of staff.

“This is very important for a company in the building of their brand, as employees are always keen to work for companies where they know they are valued and supported.”

Dawn says by making the most of their human resources, a company can also open itself up to a range of new markets and demographics.

“The GLBT community in Australia last year is said to have spent over $10 billion and smart organisations would be keen to gain access to that level of spending.”
In addition to providing members with policy and procedural frameworks, the Pride In Diversity program will stage three good practice seminars every year throughout Australia.

Guest speakers, business leaders and human resource managers from major corporations through to small businesses will be invited to attend.

The seminars will explore a range of issues which impact on GLBT employees, and will encourage organisations to form GLBT employee network groups.

“These groups are intended to open the communication channels between GLBT staff and management for discussion of relevant issues, as well as promoting support services and mentoring junior staff,” says Dawn.

Once Pride In Diversity is established the next step will be the creation of an Australian workplace equality index.

This will involve companies being asked to examine their policies towards GLBT staff and then encouraged to make any changes that are needed to ensure their workplace polices accommodate the needs of their GLBT staff.

To be developed throughout 2010, the index will also measure a company’s current inclusivity in relation to their GLBT employees.

“This is the first time that anything like this has been attempted in Australia and we’re very excited to be pioneering this kind of program,” Dawn says.

“In the lead up to the launch early next year, we’re encouraging businesses and organisations throughout Australia to get involved in the program and help us ensure that everybody in Australian workplaces are getting a fair go.”

Help out

If you’d like more information about the Pride In Diversity program, contact Dawn on dhough@acon.org.au or call (02) 9206 2136.