While Canada is a world leader in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered rights, businesses could do more to welcome LGBT employees, say most people in a recent survey. A public opinion poll was conducted on line for Sodexo, a company that offers quality of life services.
Two-thirds of employed adults said more could be done to welcome LGBT employees. The number jumped to 59 per cent among LGBT respondents.
‘Diversity should be a priority’
Nine out of 10 employees believe the workplace should welcome all employees regardless of their sexual orientation and 72 per cent think diversity should be a priority for business leaders. The poll results offer good news for Michael Bach, founder and CEO of the Canadian Institute of Diversity and Inclusion, a non-profit based in Toronto.
“What it tells us is that Canadians as a whole really understand the value of creating inclusive workplaces where people can come to work and do their job and be productive in the workplace,” he says. However when separating out the responses of LGBT respondents, he adds “It shows that LGBT people feel much more strongly that business need to do a better job of making sure that their workplaces are inclusive in comparison to their straight counterparts.”
Canada among most progressive, but…
Canada is one of the most progressive countries when it comes to LGBT rights, Bach acknowledges. He cites protection in the areas of employment, housing and other rights afforded in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He also notes Canada was the fifth country to introduce same gender marriage and the recently-elected premier of the province of Ontario is openly lesbian. But he says not one of the heads of Canada’s top 500 corporations is openly gay.
Best and worst sectors
The most inclusive places to work in Canada are the knowledge industries, retail, tech, and banking sectors. Accounting and banking are improving as well. The ones Bach says need most improvement are the trade-driven sectors like oil and gas, forestry and mining.
‘Give them a sign’
To improve things business leaders need to first acknowledge that they have probably already had LGBT people working for them, but may not have known it, says Bach. He says six to 10 per cent of Canadians are not straight but many may keep that under wraps. Leaders should clearly state their workplace is inclusive either by sending internal e-mails or posting rainbow flags or by making some other symbolic gesture of support.
“It doesn’t have to be big and expensive and it doesn’t have to be your organization marching in the pride parade, but LGBT people…will wait for that sign before coming out,” says Bach.
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