Career Advancement Barriers Faced by LGBTQ Employees: An Exploration of Discrimination, Bias, and Inclusion in the Workplace

Abstract

Background: LGBTQ individuals have historically faced discrimination and stigma in the workplace, and this can impact their career advancement opportunities. Despite increasing awareness and legal protections, it is still unclear how pervasive these barriers are and how they impact LGBTQ employees' advancement opportunities.

Findings: Our study aimed to explore career advancement barriers faced by LGBTQ employees. We conducted a survey of 500 LGBTQ employees across various industries in the United States. Our findings show that workplace discrimination, lack of mentorship and sponsorship, bias in hiring and promotion, fear of being out, and lack of inclusive policies and benefits are significant barriers to career advancement for LGBTQ employees. Workplace discrimination was found to be the most significant barrier, with 75% of respondents reporting that they had experienced some form of discrimination in the workplace due to their LGBTQ identity.

Recommendations: To address these barriers, we recommend that workplaces take several steps. Firstly, workplaces must implement policies that protect against discrimination, including sexual orientation and gender identity. This can be achieved by implementing diversity and inclusion training for all employees and holding managers and employees accountable for discriminatory behavior. Secondly, offering mentorship and sponsorship programs to LGBTQ employees is crucial to their career advancement. Thirdly, workplaces must ensure that LGBTQ employees have equal opportunities for hiring and promotion, and this can be achieved by implementing objective criteria for evaluation and decision-making. Fourthly, creating a supportive and inclusive environment where LGBTQ employees can feel safe and supported to be out is essential. Finally, workplaces should offer benefits that are inclusive of LGBTQ employees, such as healthcare coverage for gender-affirming procedures and parental leave for same-sex couples.

Conclusion: Our findings highlight the significant barriers that LGBTQ employees face in career advancement due to discrimination, bias, and lack of support. Our recommendations provide a roadmap for workplaces to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ employees, which benefits both the employees and the organization as a whole.