LGBTQ

Long story short: Making your LGBTQ employees feel seen — and supported

By Alyssa Place, This is my expertise

Published June 4, 2021 11:40 AM EDT 1 Min Read

LGBTQ employees are taking a stand against workplace benefits and policies that don’t allow them to bring their best selves to work.

Eleven million Americans identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, 88% of whom are employed, according to the National LGBTQ Workers Center. This population has struggled to combat discrimination and weather harassment, forcing many to feel unseen, unheard and unsafe.

Members of the LGBTQ community don’t just want better, more inclusive benefits — they want educated providers who are medically qualified to tend to their physical needs and culturally aware enough to ease their psychological ones, too.

Eleven million Americans identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, 88% of whom are employed, according to the National LGBTQ Workers Center. Fifty-six percent of the LGBTQ community report experiencing discrimination from a provider and are two to three times more likely to avoid care compared to straight and cisgender populations, according to data from Included Health.

Alyssa Place

Editor-in-chief

Alyssa Place is the editor-in-chief of Employee Benefit News and has been with the team since 2019. Her work covers mental health, DEI, women at work, financial wellness, retirement and workplace … Read full bio

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.

LGBTQ Gender discrimination

Benefits Think Want better performance? Give your employees a break

Even small moments of rest can improve well-being.

August 8

Jennifer Lee

Intradiem

Mental Health

Mental health, ADHD, fertility: Don’t let your employees struggle in silence

Whether helping employees with developmental disabilities, or through family planning challenges, employers can do more to bring these issues to light.

By Alyssa Place

Editor-in-chief

Employee Benefit News

November 3