A recent survey conducted by compliance and DEI eLearning specialists, VinciWorks, has found that over half (56%) of HR and DEI managers are not yet carrying out any training around sexual orientation within their organisations. Furthermore, 62% of HR and DEI managers have witnessed discrimination against sexual minorities in the workplace. The surveyed managers were based in the UK, US, Europe and India.
Almost a quarter of those surveyed (23%) revealed they had witnessed this type of discrimination several times, while only one-third (33%) had not seen any discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees.
Only a quarter (25%) of HR and DEI managers plan to roll out sexual orientation training to their employees to combat discrimination in the workplace in the near future, but barely a fifth (22%) of those questioned are undertaking the recommended training every year.
While over half (57%) of HR and DEI managers think their organisations provide a significant amount of support to LGBTQ+ employees in their workplace, 43% of those surveyed admitted they feel their organisations are not very supportive. This highlights the substantial amount of work that still needs to be done to make sexual minorities feel comfortable in the workplace.
“Regular training on sexual orientation also supports staff to know how to speak to colleagues and clients with more sensitivity, more understanding and also challenge those potentially biased. People should be able to bring their whole selves to work and that includes LGBTQ+ people,” said Nick Henderson-Mayo, Head of D&I at VinciWorks.