Number of GLBT Employees
Several companies have sought to determine the number of their employees who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender while balancing concerns for employee privacy.
GLBT Employee Resource Groups
Many companies use their GLBT employee group membership numbers to provide estimates, but this method is limited by the scope of such groups over a highly dispersed workforce, the number of non-GLBT identified members of the group, as well as an employee’s comfort level or interest to join a group in the first place.
Self-Identification Surveys
More recently, employers have included questions that allow GLBT employees to self-identify on employee engagement or satisfaction surveys, which can include upward of 100 questions. This is almost always done anonymously to ensure employee privacy, but GLBT employees may nonetheless remain fearful of disclosure on these surveys. In the 2006 HRC Corporate Equality Index survey of more than 400 employers, 73 indicated that they allowed their employees to self-identify in some form.
According to J.P. Morgan Chase, 325 of its 160,000 employees, or roughly 0.2 percent, self-identify as transgender.[1] This relatively small number is consistent with the general issue of unemployment or underemployment among transgender people, calling further attention to the need for strong non-discrimination policies.
[1] Leonard, Bill. "Transgender Issues Could Push Diversity Envelope for Some Employers," HR News, Apr. 19, 2007. Available at: www.shrm.org/diversity/library_published/nonIC/CMS_021265.asp.
