Over the past decade, companies have made major strides in creating more diverse workplaces. The business incentives of a diverse workforce — increased innovation, profits, and growth — are something HR teams and managers cannot ignore. Not to mention, it’s simply the right thing to do.
But diversity is meaningless without the other side of the coin: inclusion. When people don’t feel free to bring their authentic selves to work, it negatively affects productivity, motivation, and even creative risk-taking. And the truth is, too many LGBTQ+ employees don’t feel comfortable being themselves at work. A 2020 study by Boston Consulting Group and New York City’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center found that 40% of LGBTQ+ people are closeted at work, and 75% have reported experiencing negative day-to-day workplace interactions.
