Why Businesses Would Benefit from LGBT Equality in the Workplace

Following the Supreme Court ruling in June 2015 that same-sex marriages are a nation-wide right and that such couples will be recognized by the federal government and granted the same rights as other couples, more attention has been paid to LGBT issues elsewhere. Businesses are now being pushed to include LGBT equality in the workplace more than ever.

As more people are stepping forward and being open about who they are, cases of employee discrimination based on orientation are increasing. While some companies and organizations are embracing acceptance and equality, such as the Boy Scouts of America approving a resolution to end the ban on gay adults, others are not. What these other companies fail to realize is that there are a number of benefits to adopting a LGBT equality policy for their employees.

Happier Employees

By allowing their staff to be open about who they are, companies are creating more productive employees. Those who have to constantly hide their orientation stuffer from additional stress and anxiety in the workplace, which lessens their focus on their job and decreases employee morale. This stress can also lead to health issues which can lead to using sick days and falling behind schedule. If the need to suppress a part of themselves for fear of retaliation or loss of employment were removed, these employees would feel more comfortable at work and be able to focus more fully on the task at hand. Happier workers make for more productive workers.

Foster a Positive Work Environment

Hostility and fear in the workplace aren’t good motivators. They create a tense working environment which as we’ve just discussed isn’t good for productivity. Publicly embracing LGBT equality ensures equal treatment of all employees and protection should discrimination instances still occur. Employees need to be able to put trust in their employers that they will be evaluated on the quality and caliber of their work, and not any outside or personal influences. There are protected classes for a reason. If this trust is there, a more positive work environment is created and company loyalty is established. Loyalty can go a long way.

Positive PR

This leads us to public relations. How a business operates and how they treat their employees are things millennials in particular have been paying close attention to. Instances of boycotting a particular company due to their business practices are common these days. With a poll showing that millennials are even more supportive of same sex relationships than of casual sex with no intention to form a relationship, businesses risk losing out on this entire market should they choose to discriminate against those in the LGBT community. Those who do show equality for all in the workplace are more prone to benefiting from the positive publicity.

Less Employee Turnover

A result of discriminating employees based on their orientation can be the loss of employment and the need to find new workers to replace them. Whether workers quit due to uncomfortable working conditions or are outright fired by their employers, these businesses then need to deal with staff turnover. If these staff members are good at what they do and have shown themselves to be capable of handling the responsibilities of their positions, these vacancies are completely unnecessary. By supporting LGBT equality in the workplace, businesses can hang on to these experienced workers and not waste time looking for new, inexperienced talent.

Lower Legal Fees

Instances of discrimination in the workplace often results in lawsuits. They’re expensive, time-consuming, and very public. While a company may feel they have the right to discriminate against LGBT employees due to religious reasons, the worker also has the right to sue. Again, this effects a business’s public image, brand loyalty, staff turnover, and now its profits. Having anti-discrimination practices in the workplace for everyone ensures a decrease in lawsuits and less money paid out for fees and settlements.

Diversity brings with it different perspectives and new ideas. Each demographic has something to contribute to the way a business is run, and the same goes for the LGBT community. As millennials continue to support equality for all, and are teaching those same values to the next generation as parents, the push for workplace equality will only continue. It’s best for companies to jump on the bandwagon and start reaping the benefits now.