Oct. 5, 2009 (Business Wire) -- According to the 2009 Out & Equal Workplace Survey, other factors being equal, 71 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults would prefer a job with an employer based in a state where marriage equality is recognized over an employer based in a state that does not yet recognize marriage equality for same-sex couples. When asked specifically of lesbian and gay adults, 79% or eight out of ten agree.
When asked hypothetically, if they lived in a state where marriage equality is recognized by law, 42 percent of LGBT adults say they would consider changing jobs if their employer required them to transfer to a state where same-sex marriages are not recognized. Four out of ten – or 39% - LGBT adults also would consider declining a job promotion if it required them to transfer to a state where same-sex marriages are not recognized, while nearly half – or 47% – of gay and lesbian adults, counted specifically, concur.
“As marriage equality reaches more states and touches more lives, more families and more workplaces, employers based in states that deny this right will begin to face increasing challenges in trying to recruit and retain top LGBT talent,” said Out & Equal Founding Executive Director Selisse Berry. “Marriage equality is a real business issue for all of America’s business leaders as they strive to achieve a diverse, well-qualified and loyal workforce.”
The 2009 Out & Equal Workplace Survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive® in conjunction with Out & Equal and Witeck-Combs Communications, among 2,709 U.S. adults, of whom 378 self-identified as, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). Beginning in 2002, this survey has become a trusted annual barometer of attitudes surrounding LGBT issues in the workplace and is the longest-running national survey of its kind.
The survey also highlights ways today’s economy is changing attitudes and openness among LGBT workers. For instance, one in five – 21% - LGBT adults report the current economy has had an impact on their willingness to be open about their sexual orientation with co-workers or colleagues, and 22% percent of LGBT adults added today’s economy has had an impact on their willingness to be open about their sexual orientation with their boss or manager. The survey showed only 41 percent of LGBT adults declare they are “out” to their co-workers/colleagues, which represents a modest decrease from the same survey question asked in September 2008 when 49 percent of LGBT adults reported being “out” in the workplace.
When it comes to seeking a diverse work environment, a majority – with 55% – of LGBT respondents said that is important that they work for a company known to recruit employees from a variety of diverse backgrounds, compared with 34 percent of heterosexual respondents. This is an increase from June 2008, by contrast, when 42 percent of LGBT adults said that is important that they work for a company known to recruit employees from a variety of diverse backgrounds.
“We don’t promote diversity in the workplace just because it’s morally right. We promote diversity because it’s essential to the success of any organization that aspires to reach a broad cross-section of Americans,” said John Berry, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and keynote presenter for this year’s Out & Equal Workplace Summit, held Oct. 6-9 in Orlando, Fla. “Only a workforce that reflects our country’s wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives will fully serve the American people.”
How comfortable do employees feel expressing their identities at work? Nearly half (47%) of LGBT adults say they are comfortable introducing their spouse, partner or significant other to their co-workers in their current or their most recent job, compared to larger majority a of heterosexual adults (58%). This represents an increase since the same question was asked in June 2008 when only 37 percent of LGBT respondents said they were comfortable introducing their spouse, partner or significant other to their co-workers. Also, only 3 percent of LGBT adults say they are not at all comfortable introducing their spouse, partner or significant other to their co-worker, compared with 11 percent in June 2008.
In contrast, when it comes to employees being open to their boss or manager, 47 percent of LGBT adults said they were comfortable introducing their spouse, partner or significant other to their boss or management in their current or most recent job, compared to more than half of heterosexual adults (56%). This is an increase in confidence, since this question was asked in a similar survey in June 2008 when only 39 percent of LGBT respondents said they were comfortable introducing their spouse, partner or significant other to their boss or management.
