Degrees of Equality: Openness at Work
The following information is from our 2009 report, "Degrees of Equality: A National Study Examining Workplace Climate for LGBT Employees."
Two-thirds (66 percent) of LGBT employees said one reason they are not open to everyone at work is because "it's nobody's business." However, further analysis of survey results reveal that this feeling is strongly tied to reported incidence of negative climate.
These employees were most likely to feel not accepted by co-workers and tend to exhibit signs of distress from a negative climate, such as staying home from work, feeling distracted from work, feeling exhausted from hiding, and avoiding certain clients or customers.
While being open is a personal decision, this sentiment may be a defensive response brought about by previous negative experiences from employees whom, under better circumstances, would be open about their LGBT identities.
