Employees Judge Companies for Silence on LGBTQ+ Issues, Survey Reveals
A recent Harris Poll survey indicates that employees, particularly those who identify as LGBTQ+, are observing a shift in corporate communication and support regarding LGBTQ+ issues. Many companies have become less vocal, reducing participation in external programs and using vaguer language, prompting employees to question corporate values. This silence impacts employee trust, loyalty, and behavior, with a significant percentage of LGBTQ+ workers reporting they would lose trust or leave a company that becomes less supportive. Non-LGBTQ+ employees also notice this change and believe it reflects a company's broader approach to all workers.
Employees are noticing a decline in corporate vocalness regarding LGBTQ+ issues, a trend that impacts trust and loyalty, according to new findings from a Harris Poll survey. Corporate America has shown hesitation in speaking out forcefully on these matters, with some companies ceasing participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, which ranks workplace inclusion. While some corporate sponsorships for Pride celebrations have resumed this year, they remain below pre-pandemic levels.
The survey of over 3,000 U.S.-based workers found that 62% of LGBTQ+ employees have observed at least one meaningful change in their company's approach to discussing issues affecting them, often noting vaguer language or an increased focus on legal compliance. More than 40% reported a decrease in both internal and external communication about LGBTQ+ employees or issues, and 16% found their employers had withdrawn from external programs like the Corporate Equality Index. Only about one-third of LGBTQ+ workers now believe their workplace maintains an overtly supportive culture and policies.
Workers who do not identify as LGBTQ+ have also recognized this shift, with nearly half reporting they notice when their company is less vocal on these issues and feel the effects of such changes. Among all employees, 62% believe a company’s treatment of LGBTQ+ workers reflects how it treats all employees, and 60% indicated that the workplace felt more supportive of all staff when the company explicitly stood in solidarity with LGBTQ+ workers. A quarter of employees stated that simply acknowledging Pride demonstrated a company’s broader commitment to inclusion.
This climate has led 64% of LGBTQ+ employees to alter their behavior or censor themselves at work, with many avoiding discussions about their personal lives, hesitating to speak on LGBTQ+ issues, or declining to correct coworkers regarding misgendering or assumptions about their identity.
Employers face potential talent retention challenges as a result of this trend. The survey revealed that 80% of LGBTQ+ workers would lose trust in a company that became less vocal about LGBTQ+ issues, and 68% would consider leaving if they no longer felt supported. Nearly three-quarters of LGBTQ+ employees stated they would be less loyal to an organization that had grown quiet on these matters, highlighting the impact on employee engagement and retention.
(Source: Fast Company)
