Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Workplace cultureGender reassignment discriminationLGBTLatest NewsSexual 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

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.

Avatar
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

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Kristie Higgs succeeds in bid to remove LGBT...

5 Jul 2022

Diversity and inclusion: where does the buck stop?

4 Jul 2022

One in five workplaces lack LGBT support policies

30 Jun 2022

Black, Asian and LGBTQ+ workers ‘overlooked’ at work

20 Jun 2022

Wording of diversity statements critical to policies’ success

10 Jun 2022

Accreditation scheme will ‘encourage LGBT+ people to be...

17 May 2022

Maya Forstater: What is a woman?

10 May 2022

Robin Moira White: What is a woman?

10 May 2022

School discriminated against Christian caretaker who tweeted against...

3 May 2022

Philosophical belief: barrister’s tribunal claim against Stonewall begins

26 Apr 2022
  • The ultimate guide to payroll for small businesses PROMOTED | You’ve started a business that has expanded to the point of requiring more staff to meet demand. Congratulations!...Read more
  • NSPCC revamps its learning strategy with child wellbeing at its heart PROMOTED | The NSPCC’s mission is to prevent abuse and neglect...Read more
  • Diversity versus inclusion: Why the difference matters PROMOTED | It’s possible for an environment to be diverse, but not inclusive...Read more
  • Five steps for organisations across the globe to become more skills-driven PROMOTED | The shift in the world of work has been felt across the globe...Read more
  • The future of workforce development PROMOTED | Northumbria University and partners share insight...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 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+