Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Equality, diversity and inclusionLatest NewsGender reassignment discriminationLGBTSexual orientation discrimination

Coming out at work: advice for employers

by Philip Richardson 21 Feb 2020
by Philip Richardson 21 Feb 2020 Phillip Schofield with ITV co-presenter Holly Willoughby
Photo: Ian West/PA Archive/PA Images
Phillip Schofield with ITV co-presenter Holly Willoughby
Photo: Ian West/PA Archive/PA Images

After Phillip Schofield’s heartfelt Twitter post where he revealed he is gay, Philip Richardson, head of employment law at Stephensons Solicitors, offers advice for employers wanting to support staff who have revealed they are LGBT at work.

Phillip Schofield, the presenter of ITV’s This Morning and Dancing on Ice, revealed this month that he is gay in an emotional Instagram post and television interview.

“My inner conflict contrasts with an outside world that has changed so very much for the better. Today, quite rightly, being gay is a reason to celebrate and be proud,” he said.

He also shared how his workplace had been very supportive: “At ITV, I couldn’t hope to work with more wonderful, supportive teams.”

LGBT employees are often reticent about coming out at work and worry about discrimination. Research by Stonewall, the charity that campaigns for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, revealed that more than a third of LGBT staff have hidden the fact they are LGBT at work for fear of discrimination.

A statement from Phillip pic.twitter.com/iIE7NcLZ2I

— This Morning (@thismorning) February 7, 2020

Workplace bullying aimed at the LGBT community is a serious threat with one in ten black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT employees having been physically attacked by customers or colleagues in the last year.

Employer obligations for LGBT staff

Employers have a duty of care to all employees and must ensure they are not subject to unfavourable treatment as a result of their sexual orientation. This would extend to any form of discrimination in the event an employee chooses to come out at work.

Organisations are encouraged to have an open and honest workplace culture where employees can be themselves and feel supported should any discrimination take place. Having a diverse workplace should be encouraged and seen as a positive.

The Equality Act 2010 protects employees from discrimination and harassment at work because of their sexual orientation. Employers are legally responsible for the conduct of their staff, if an employee uses homophobic “banter” and jokes against an LGBT colleague, an employer is liable.

Staff are advised to speak with their manager first and try to sort out the matter informally. It can then be progressed to HR, a formal complaint and could go on to result in a claim at an employment tribunal. 

LGBT in the workplace

Third of LGBT employees hide their sexual orientation at work

Diversity & Inclusion: Sign up to our free e-newsletter now

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Managers should strive to create an inclusive and accepting culture at work. Employers are advised to support LGBT employees by:

  • Making sure staff are aware of the organisation’s policies relating to equality, bullying and harassment
  • Inviting colleagues to attend equality training
  • Challenging any homophobic comments immediately and explaining to the culprit why and how their behaviour is unacceptable
  • Having an equality and diversity officer
  • Senior staff are advised to talk positively and openly about LGBT friends and family
  • Use inclusive language at work
  • Advise staff that you are there to support them if they decide to come out at work
  • Get involved in supporting Pride and involve all staff in attending other LGBT events
  • Invite employees to complete equality monitoring exercises and take part in staff surveys to access how they feel if they are LGBT
  • Create a specific LGBT discrimination policy for managers to understand how to handle the situation should an incident occur.

It’s important for all employers to remember to create an inclusive environment at work. Some employers are better than this than others, but it should be remembered that it is not only LGBT staff who are “out” who need to be considered, but – like Schofield – employees who are thinking of coming out who should feel they can do so in the workplace, safe in the knowledge that their colleagues will support them.

Philip Richardson

Philip Richardson is a partner and head of the employment law department at national law firm Stephensons Solicitors.

previous post
Two in five unaware it is legal to employ somebody who is homeless
next post
Points-based immigration: five things employers can do now

You may also like

Consultation launched after Supreme Court ‘sex’ ruling

20 May 2025

RCN warns Darlington NHS trust over single-sex spaces

16 May 2025

EHRC bows to pressure and extends gender consultation

15 May 2025

‘Unacceptable to question integrity’ of Supreme Court judgment

2 May 2025

Trans ex-judge to appeal Supreme Court biological sex...

29 Apr 2025

EHRC: Interim update on single-sex spaces draws criticism

28 Apr 2025

Opposition to Supreme Court sex ruling is ‘wishful...

22 Apr 2025

Union branch wants rights for polyamorous people

9 Apr 2025

Darlington nurses’ changing room case delayed to October

3 Apr 2025

University of Sussex attacks Kathleen Stock freedom of...

27 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+