How does your business go about recruiting to the LGBT community? Do any of your advertising and marketing practices target LGBT consumers? Do you know how to assist a transgendered employee in their gender transition process at work? And what about those bathrooms—how are you addressing this issue? Workplaces have made progress towards LGBT equality yet LGBT workers still go to work every day with fear that they might lose their jobs because of whom they love and who they are. There is no federal law protecting the LGB community from workplace discrimination and harassment. There is confusion among organizations as to whether the federal civil rights law Title VII protects gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) employees.
The EEOC and several courts clearly have stated that LGB employees are protected by Title VII however other courts have disagreed. Recently, the EEOC has filed its first two sexual orientation lawsuits. These two cases demonstrate the EEOC’s commitment to moving forward to protect LGB employees from discrimination under Title VII. Transgender employees are protected under the Civil Rights Act Title VII because their discrimination is “because of sex” yet discrimination lawsuits continue to arise as to what bathroom and locker room transgender employees can use while at work. Roughly 90% of transgender and 40% of GLB employees experience workplace discrimination according to some surveys.
Heterosexism - the cultural expectation that everyone is, should be, or would prefer to be heterosexual - is the established norm of the workplace; a commonplace bias in American institutions. This bias gets played out in both overt and covert behaviors which in turn negatively impact the organizational culture. However, there have been organizational successes in diminishing the biases. There is an opportunity for your organization to create strategies to ensure LGBT inclusion in your workforce.
As with any other organization, healthcare employs LGBT individuals who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and feel included in their work culture and environment. When members of the LGBT community do not feel as though they are accepted by others it decreases morale, productivity, increases turnover, and may interfere with their ability to provide the best quality patient care. Treating LGBT employees with respect and dignity is not only required by the EEOC, but also by several states and some federal courts. You run the risk of liability if the LGBT population is not included in the culture of your workplace.
As with any other organization, healthcare employs LGBT individuals who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and feel included in their work culture and environment. When members of the LGBT community do not feel as though they are accepted by others it decreases morale, productivity, increases turnover, and may interfere with their ability to provide the best quality patient care. Treating LGBT employees with respect and dignity is not only required by the EEOC, but also by several states and some federal courts. You run the risk of liability if the LGBT population is not included in the culture of your workplace.
Dr. Susan Strauss
Dr. Susan Strauss is a national and international speaker, trainer and consultant. Her specialty areas include management/leadership development, organization development, communication, and harassment and bullying. She is an expert witness for discrimination and harassment lawsuits. She trains and consults with business, education, healthcare, law, and government organizations from both the public and private sector. Dr. Strauss has authored over 30 book chapters, books, and articles in professional journals. She has been featured on 20/20, CBS Evening News, and other television and radio programs as well as interviewed for newspaper and journal articles. She has her doctorate in organizational leadership, is …
Interactive dashboards & analytics in Excel
Copilot and HR: An Introduction for HR Professionals
4-Hour Virtual Seminar on Bootcamp on Excel
Leading Across Generations: 5 Challenges & 10 Strategies to…
I-9 Audits: Strengthening Your Immigration Compliance Strat…
Fair Lending in 2025: New Regulations, Examinations and Enf…
Tattoos, hijabs, piercings, and pink hair: The challenges …
Using Emotional Intelligence to Elevate Your Leadership
ChatGPT & HR: How HR Recruiting Professionals Can Leverage …
FDA Trends in Compliance and Enforcement in Computer System…
Elevate Your Workplace Wellness: 10 Critical Wellness Facto…
How to Manage the Legal Landmine of the FMLA, ADA and Worke…
How to Write a Successful Job Hazard Analysis
How to Write Right for Better Business Communication
How to Prepare For and Host a FDA Inspection and Respond to…
Public Speaking: Overcoming The Fear of Public Speaking
From Good to Great: The Secrets to an Optimized LinkedIn Pr…
Workplace Investigations 101: How to Conduct your Investiga…
Policy Pops: Navigating DEI in the 2025 Workplace: Strategi…
The Five Cs Of Commercial Credit: The Basic Elements Of Cre…
Transforming Anger And Conflict Into Collaborative Problem …
Navigating Alcohol and Drug Addiction Protections Under the…
Reduce Stress in the Workplace: Effective Ways to Handle Co…
Transforming HR with AI: Unlocking Excellence and Innovation
Creating Employee Handbooks that Protect You and Support th…
FDA Technology Modernization Action Plan (TMAP) and Impact …
Transform Data into Insights: A Beginners Guide to Excel Pi…
Mindful Communication:The Key to Meaningful Conversations i…
FDA Proposes Framework to Advance Credibility of AI Models
50+ new Excel features so far this decade
FMLA Compliance in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide & Strategies…
Excel - 10 Key Worksheet Functions to Skyrocket Your Produc…
Managing Toxic Employees: Strategies For Leaders To Effecti…
Hiring and Retaining Employees in this Crazy Economy
Harassment, Bullying, Gossip, Confrontational and Disruptiv…