Despite ongoing conversation around LGBTQ rights and inclusion in the workplace, there is a startling lack of awareness when it comes to the number of employees who identify as LGBTQ, as well as how they can feel more comfortable about being themselves at work.
Data from a recent Monster survey of workers revealed that while one in three respondents identified as LGBTQ or a member of the queer community, over half estimate their workforce’s percentage of LGBTQ employees to be less than 2% (statistics on the overall LGBTQ workforce population vary; data from the WIlliams Institute reports a number of over eight million employees, or around 5.1%). Of the respondents who did identify as LGBTQ, only 19% say their coworkers are aware of their sexual orientation, compared to 45% of those who identified as straight. Another 9% say they are “out” in their personal life, but not at work.
