A Question of Trust: LGBT Visibility in the Workplace Acknowledgments The author, researchers and sponsors of this study would like to thank all the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people from a number of different countries who took the time to take part in the survey. Without their candid observations about their sexual orientation and identity in the work place it would not have been possible. For their honesty, courage and desire to create a more open and equitable workplace, this study is dedicated to them. Author: This study was conducted by Ben Capell: An Organizational Consultant and a Ph.D. candidate, ESADE Business School, Future of Work Chair under the guidance of Professor Simon L. Dolan. Workplace Pride staff served as a subject expert during different stages of the research design, facilitated contact with LGBT people in the workplace for the survey and was instrumental in promoting the study in various forums. Principle Sponsors: ESADE Business School: Future of Work Chair: Professor Simon L. Dolan Workplace Pride Foundation: Executive Director, David Pollard Additional Researchers: Dr. Shay Tzafrir (Haifa University, Israel) Additional Sponsors: Ambiete G - www.ambienteg.com Axel Hotels - www.axelhotels.com FELGBT (Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gais, Transexuales y Bisexuales) - http://www.felgtb.org/ Mako Pride (mako )גאווה- http://www.mako.co.il/pride We would also like to thank Patrick Lagnier & Adi Shorer (HP EMEA PRIDE Network leads) and Robert Cole (BT and SWAN LGBT Networking) for their valuable contribution to the study design. Publisher: Workplace Pride Foundation Vijzelstraat 20 1017 HK Amsterdam The Netherlands info@workplacepride.org www.workplacepride.org © Workplace Pride Foundation, September 2013* *This study is a selected summary of Ben Capell’s full doctoral thesis. The Workplace Pride Copyright applies to this summary only and is shared with ESADE Business School, Future of Work Chair and Mr. Capell himself. Workplace Pride claims no copyright for Mr. Capell’s other published work. Publication Management: David Pollard, Executive Director, Workplace Pride Foundation Graphic Design: graphicivolution.com A Question of Trust: LGBT Visibility in the Workplace 2 Table of Contents Introduction ESADE Business School Introduction Workplace Pride Foundation Foreword Executive Summary Background Deciding whether or not to come out Past research and what is missing Introduction to Trust: What it is and why it can explain coming out at work The Study: Methodology Charts: 1. Respondents Profile 2. Country of respondents 3. Working sectors 4. Feelings about being LGBT 5. Degrees of ‘outness’ / in private 6. Degrees of ‘outness’ / at work 7. Experiences of heterosexism Results Conclusions and recommendations Literature About the research manager 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 10 11 11 11 13 14 15 Introduction: ESADE Business School The ESADE Future of Work is a relatively new entity within ESADE Business School. Following a long history of research , publications of books and articles , and training of doctoral students from all corners of the world, we have reached the conclusion that perhaps we need to start venturing into the future. We are in the middle of multiple revolutions: technological revolution, global economic revolution and a cognitive revolution where a new mind set is really needed. The role of the future of work chair, is to undertake new initiatives, of different sources, venturing into what seems to be the future. We are, however, focusing on the world of work. The latter, has seen evolutions and revolutions. We witness virtual work where frontiers do not matter, we see the beginning of portfolio type work where people commit to permanent part time positions, and we can also see new expressions of diversity amongst the workforce. In an era of war for talent, we are convinced more and more that what really counts is the added value of employees regardless of their race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age and other factors. Employers are seeking talent that can be entrusted and sustain productivity. In the Chair we have developed a stream of research dealing with issues such as culture reengineering, values and trust as core elements for a sustainable context. The work reported herein undertaken by Ben Capell, a talented scholar from our team, who is also completing his doctoral work, is one more evidence of our concern. The research embeds issues of sexual diversity and trust and explores the possible consequences for the person involved as well as for the organization. This type of research is a pioneering work, that might enable us to better understand the complex issue of LGBT community in a work setting. Diversities that were stigmatized yesterday, are gradually becoming very accepted today and will become routine and standard tomorrow. We are happy to be part of this challenge and we hope that we can draw important lessons to guide us in future management of the workforce. Prof. Simon Dolan, Director of Future of Work Chair, ESADE Business School A Question of Trust: LGBT Visibility in the Workplace 4 Introduction: Workplace Pride Foundation Since 2006, Workplace Pride has been at the forefront of developments regarding LGBT people in the workplace, particularly in Europe. We have participated in or initiated a number of studies dealing with the economic impact of the LGBT people in the workplace, the benefits of being out of the closet in the workplace, highlighting what organizations should do to recruit and retain LGBT people, and a study on the consequences of having global LGBT diversity policies set within the context of different and often very contradictory international legal environments. This work however, which Workplace Pride has undertaken in cooperation with the Future of Work Chair at the ESADE business school, taps into a topic that is both subtle but also can have far-reaching consequences for not just the LGBT person in the workplace, but almost anyone in the workplace. With the principal theme of “Trust”, this study explores, through empirical data gathered from a number of countries, what the real barriers are to people being out of the closet in the workplace. It examines the sometime intangible mechanisms at play that hinder progress from both LGBT employees and employers. Finally, it makes concrete recommendations of what employers can do to increase the element of ‘trust’ in their workplaces and thereby create environments that are more conducive to openness and productivity for all. Workplace Pride would like to thank the primary researcher for this report, Ben Capell, for his insight and empathy with both the participants of the survey as well as to the employers the study is targeting. Ben’s professional work ethic and committed passion for the topic of diversity in the workplace has been an inspiration for all who have participated in this study. We would also like to thank all the participants of the study who committed not just their time, but their deepest thoughts/concerns on the important topic of work. Their contribution has led to a greater understanding of the value of being out in the workplace and underlines the potential of all people who can truly be themselves at work. David Pollard Executive Director, Workplace Pride Foundation 5 Foreword In May 2013 the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights published a report on the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the E.U. and Croatia. Data from over 93,000 LGBT individuals make evident an uncomfortable truth concerning the reality of sexual minorities in Europe. Despite progress in some areas, many LGBT individuals still experience discrimination and hostility in various life domains. These findings are paralleled by reports from other countries that show similar unfortunate patterns. Fortunately, there are also winds of change. Government and private and public organisations in multiple countries have begun to recognize the social and economic imperative of LGBT inclusion. Efforts of such organisations help raise awareness of the need to increase societal openness for LGBT people. Naturally, many of these efforts are focused on creating a more inclusive workplace environment. By now, thanks to such projects, we know more about the challenges LGBT individuals face at work and what companies can do to support them. Nevertheless, despite this progress, our knowledge is far from complete as there are some important questions to be addressed. Among the most critical is: How do we create a workplace environment where employees feel at ease coming out and being themselves at work? This is a burning question. Current estimates suggest that in both the European Union and the United States more than half of LGBT employees prefer to avoid disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity at work. Understanding what needs to be done to make employees feel more comfortable coming out is important for both LGBT employees and their organisations. Not only do LGBT employees who are out and feel welcomed feel more satisfied and healthier, they are also more productive and committed. Accordingly this study aims to help answer this question by exploring the role of trust in the disclosure decision of LGBT employees at work. This report presents the quantitative results of a research project led by an international team of scholars. The results are clear. The trust that employees feel toward their managers and organisation determines their willingness to come out at work - more than other researched organisational factors and the policies and the presence of networking groups. Furthermore, once out, trust will increase employees’ commitment and motivation to promote the goals of their organisation. Over the next few pages we provide background of previous studies, discuss the results of our work, and, make recommendations for what organisations can do to make their LGBT employees more comfortable coming out at work. Ben Capell Research Manager A Question of Trust: LGBT Visibility in the Workplace 6 Executive Summary: The disclosure dilemma of LGBT employees at work: what we know and why to look further Background Demographic diversity can take two forms: one that is clearly visible and one that can be disguised or concealed. Race or ethnicity, for example, will typically fall under the first category of diversity because of the external features associated with it. On the other hand, sexual orientation and transgender identity usually come under the second category as people need to actively communicate whether they want it to be revealed to others. When LGBT individuals opt to “pass” (e.g., as straights) they are in fact hiding their non-heterosexual orientation or transgender identity by monitoring or manipulating the information they share with others. By contrast, “coming out” is an act of self-exposure. Deciding whether or not to come out Deciding whether or not to “come out “ at work is one of the most difficult ones in the life of LGBT employees due to the possible consequences. This difficult decision is typically referred to as the “disclosure dilemma”: On one hand, concealing one’s identity produces high levels of stress and anxiety, mainly resulting from the need to constantly monitor the information they share, and the fear of being outed involuntary. On the other hand, coming out can involve a risk of discrimination, harassment, and in some cases even physical harm. Nevertheless, when the reaction to disclosure is positive, the outcomes can be very rewarding for both the individual and their organisation. Studies show that employees who are out and encounter a welcoming environment are not just more healthy and satisfied, but also more committed, motivated, participative, and productive. Figure 1: Disclosure decision outcomes on workplace attitudes/behaviours Concealing identity Disclosure in hostile environment Disclosure in supportive environment Commitment participation intention to stay Productivity and Effectivness Job Satisfaction Psychological Well - Being For organisations, the benefits of creating a welcoming environment for their LGBT staff can go beyond fostering positive workplace attitudes, to making a positive impact on their marketplace results and bottom-line figures. Business research shows that LGBT consumers are very loyal to companies that are gay friendly and are even ready to pay a premium for their products. Furthermore, as recent cases show, discrimination can be costly as it exposes companies to serious risks such as litigation and social backlash. It is important to note that while early views tended to see the option to “pass” as straight as an advantage LGBT employees have over visible minorities, more recent work indicates that this is not actually 7 the case. The reason is that while LGBT employees can pretend to be “straights”, the anxiety engendered by “passing” and the constant emotional and cognitive effort required to handle situations where people assume they are straight, ends up taking a serious emotional toll. In fact, some studies even show that, overall, it is favourable to LGBT individuals to be out at work irrespective of the reactions of their colleagues. Past Research and What is Missing Prompted by such motivators, scholars and practitioners have worked to unveil the different factors that can contribute to a person’s readiness to come out. Such studies have focused mainly on personality and environmental factors. A few psychological motivators can encourage people to come out. Two of the important ones are: 1) the natural desire to have others see us the way we see ourselves and 2) the desire to achieve harmony between work and private lives. Then, there are environmental factors, and various studies have looked at the legal protections, the HR anti-discrimination policies, and the social environment. Figure 2: Frequently researched factors explaining readiness to come out at work While these studies shed important light on how people decide whether or not to come out, they have The Enviroment: - Anti-discrimination policies -Legal framework -Social enviroment The person: - How s/he feel about being LGBT -How open is s/he in private life limited implications for translating the findings to organizational reality. First, there is very little that organisations can do to change individuals’ intra-psychological dynamics. Second, when it comes to environmental factors, studies and everyday experience tells us that they either have limited impact (e.g., HR policies) or that they are slow to change and are beyond organisations’ reach (legal environment or social environment). So, a question still remains: What can organisations and managers do to make their employees more comfortable to be themselves at work? Introduction to Trust: What it is and why it can explain coming out at work One factor that could help both explain the decision to come out and at the same time be used to develop practical tools for organisational work is trust. A substantial amount of work over the last few years has helped clarify what trust is, what the benefits of trust are, and how trust can be improved. Trust represents a willingness to become vulnerable to another. One of the ways in which people express their trust in another person or institution is by sharing sensitive information. A simple example that can illustrate this idea is the action of providing credit card details to an online retailer when purchasing an item over the web. Because our credit card details are, after all, information of a sensitive nature, and because once we hand it over we expose ourselves to a risk (e.g., scams, errors in billing, etc.), we will not give it to anyone, only to someone or to an organisation we trust. People build a sense of trust in others based on a few dimensions. Four that are especially important are the way they perceive the other’s intentions, level of honesty/openness, capabilities, and past A Question of Trust: LGBT Visibility in the Workplace 8 actions/results. Coming back to the simple online purchasing example, common sense will tell us that online shoppers will provide their credit card details to a retailer they believe has good intentions (e.g., does not intend to take advantage of them), is honest/open (e.g., concerning the quality of the goods); is capable (e.g., will issue the right product on time), and has a positive track-record (e.g., we read reviews that tell us that in the past s/he successfully delivered similar orders). Because coming out at work is in essence an act of sharing personal information of a sensitive nature, this research aims to learn whether trust, based on the four dimensions mentioned above, can explain how people decide whether or not to come out. The Study: Methodology The quantitative part of the research took place from January to June 2013 and was the fruit of collaboration of researchers from different fields together with various LGBT networks. This study was based on data that was gathered using an online questionnaire that was developed in collaboration with experts in the area of LGBT inclusion. The anonymous questionnaire asked the respondents questions about aspects related to their experiences at work, how they feel about being LGBT, to what extent they were out at work and in their private lives, their employers’ practices, and their level of trust in both their direct manager and organisation. In addition, the survey also asked a few questions to assess employees’ level of commitment, knowledge sharing, and their actions to promote their organisations’ reputation as an employer and brand. Respondents profile: The results are based on 431 distinct respondents, 250 of whom are gay, 139 lesbian, 31 bisexual, 6 queer, and 5 transgender. Chart 1: Sexual and Gender Identity of the respondents (in numbers) The largest group of respondents came from the EU (241), primarily Spain (149), followed by Israel (116), and the U.S. (32). 200 179 150 114 100 32 20 La r th e er th O 10 O EU a ic er tin Am rla nd . s 16 U. S U. K el 33 N et he 9 ra n Sp ai 0 . 27 50 Is Chart 2: Work country of respondents (in numbers) Two hundred and sixty respondents work for private organisations, 122 for public organisations, and 23 for NGOs. Chart 3: Working sector of respondents (in numbers) 23 26 Private Public NGO (blank) 122 260 Most participants (68%) told us that being LGBTQ was an important and a positive part of their lives. Chart 4: Replies to questions on feelings towards being LGBT (in numbers) Disagree /Strongly disagreeEU Agree / Strongly agree 400 300 200 100 0 I have a positive attitude about being LGBTQ I feel pride for being LGBTQ Being LGBT is an integrated part of my identity Being LGBTQ is an important reflection of who I am and they were more likely to be out to their close network in their private lives (nuclear family vs. extended family or new friends) Chart 5: Respondents degree of outness to different groups in private lives (in numbers) I actively talk about it to others I dont try to keep it a secret I try somewhat hard keep it a secret I try very hard to keep it a secret 500 400 300 200 100 0 Close Family Extended Family New Straight Friends Main Social Group and at work (colleagues vs. management) A Question of Trust: LGBT Visibility in the Workplace 10 Chart 6: Respondents degree of outness to different workplace members (in numbers) I actively talk about it to others I dont try to keep it a secret I try somewhat hard keep it a secret I try very hard to keep it a secret 500 400 300 200 100 0 Supervisor Colleagues Senior managers HR Close to sixty percent experienced some anti-gay discrimination or hostility (heterosexism) at work over the last 2 years. The type of heterosexism they experienced was much more indirect than direct, meaning many more faced situations where colleagues talked negatively in general about LGBT people, than situations where such adverse behaviours were directed towards them or someone else specifically (a very low number experienced serious situations that included physical attacks and discrimination). Chart 7: Respondents reporting different experiences of heterosexism (in percentiles) Denied you a promotion for being LGBT Made offensive remarks about LGBT Physically hurt you Made offensive remarks to you for being LGBT 100 80 60 40 20 0 Never happened Happened only once or twice Happened multiple times Happened on a Happened most regular basis of the time Last, 55% of the individuals who answered the questionnaire worked in organisations that had some LGBTQ inclusion practices, whether they are anti-discrimination policies, ERG groups, or domestic partner benefits. Results: Trust, coming out at work, and contributions at work Statistical analysis of the survey shows without doubt the critical role that trust in management plays in the disclosure decision of LGBT employees. Both trust in the direct manager and trust in the organisation are essential, and it seems there is a quite large connection between the two, meaning that many employees who trusted their managers also trusted their organisation, and vice versa 11 When looking into all the different variables that could impact the decision to come out at work (including HR practices, experiences with colleagues at work, etc.), trust comes up as the most critical workplace factor impacting how open LGBT employees are about their sexual orientation or gender identity at work. While many different factors can make a positive or negative contribution to LGBT employees’ outness at work, when combined together, employees’ trust in a manager is second in order of importance - just after how open the person is in her/his private life. Table 1: Factors explaining coming out at work: direction and power of impact (how much do they explain of the phenomena of coming out at work) Type of impact Factor Positive impact Negative impact Power of Impact Outness in private life Explains about 30-35% Trust in manager or organisation Explains about 25-30% Strength of LGBT identity Explains about 15% Aversive comments at work about LGBT people Explains about 15% Weak impact HR policies Legal protection Past experiences being out or in Then, although there is a strong link between employees’ trust in their organisation and their trust in their direct manager, both are important as they affect outness in somewhat different ways. For example, when coming out to the manager, what counts is the employee’s trust in the manager and not in the organisation; yet when coming out to colleagues, a combination of both types of trust are needed. Furthermore, trust in the organisation was found to be a factor that intermediates between the workplace elements. For instance, HR practices, such as non-discrimination policies or the existence of networking groups, will have an effect, yet only when they are successful in generating trust. When they do not, the impact of HR practices disappear. Figure 3: Impact of HR practices Trust exists HR Practices make a positive impact Trust does not exists HR Practices do NOT make a positive impact HR Practices Analysis of the different items related to trust shows clearly that employees can trust their managers on various issues such as their ability to make good business decisions or to provide career advise, yet when it comes to coming out at work the one question that counts is: “How will my manager treat me once s/he know I am LGBTQ?” Also, unsurprisingly, the more employees trust their organisations and managers, the more personal factors (e.g., how they feel about being LGBTQ or how much they are out in their private lives) lose importance. In other words, employees who trust their managers a lot may come out at work even if they are not yet out in their private lives, or when their LGBT identity is less important for them. Finally, the impact of trust was found to extend beyond the disclosure decision and appears to contribute to important workplace outcomes. LGBT employees who trust their organisation and managers were more committed, exchanged more work-related knowledge with their colleagues, and talked more positively about their organisation to both potential clients and friends. Just being out without a sense of trust is not associated with such organisational benefits. A Question of Trust: LGBT Visibility in the Workplace 12 Conclusions: The data that was gathered during this study helps elucidate the factors that make LGBTQ employees feel more comfortable coming out at work and contribute more to their workplace goals. As shown, although this study covered a wide range of elements that may explain what makes employees feel comfortable taking the risk and coming out at work, one factor is paramount: trust. Building on these conclusions, this last section will provide some advice that could help organisations and managers create a workplace environment where their LGBTQ employees feel both more comfortable coming out and more motivated. Earlier, we commented that trust is typically formed based on four dimensions: caring, honesty, capabilities, and past results. To increase the level of trust, organisations and managers should focus on visibly delivering on each one of these dimensions. Below are some recommendations that go beyond the formal and standard HR practices: Caring: - Express interest in your employees well-being and signal that this caring is not conditional on sexual orientation or gender identity (e.g., ask openly LGBTQ employees about their weekend with their partner, etc.). - Stand firm to protect/support any employee who may experience hostility because of being LGBTQ. - Communicate in a language that shows awareness and openness (e.g., do not use words that imply that partners necessarily need to be of the opposite sex). - Use opportunities such as discussions with employees to reinforce a message of inclusiveness. - Periodically ask your open LGBTQ employees if everything is fine, express to the rest of the employees that you do not tolerate heterosexism. Honesty/Openness: - Be ready to admit mistakes and the need for improvement as related to diversity management; invite advice and feedback. - Be clear about criteria for promotion and hiring. - To the extent you feel comfortable doing so, be ready to discuss potentially sensitive aspects of your own private life. (Because coming out involves sharing information of a sensitive nature, any indication from management that they are also open to disclosing aspects of their own lives sends a powerful message of openness.) Competency: - Learn what is needed so you can have the right skills and knowledge to successfully manage issues related to sexual diversity at the workplace. - Express your competency by using the right vocabulary, take leadership when resolving issues, and show relevant expertise in the way you manage your workforce. Results: - Be consistent in the way you apply all the above, and remember that many will not take the risk of coming out if they cannot predict your reaction. - Publicly communicate the resolution of cases such as when dealing with heterosexism. - Celebrate success stories. The more you have senior managers who are out in your organisation, the greater will be the confidence of the rest of your LGBTQ staff. 13 Literature American Psychological Association (2002), APA Congressional Testimony, Retrieved from www. sbequality.org/APA_Congress_Testimony.rtf Colgan, F., Creegan, C., McKearney, A. & Wright, T. (2006). Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Workers: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace, COERC, London Metropolitan University, London Day, N.E. & Schoenrade. (2000). The relationship among reported disclosure of sexual orientation , anti-discrimination policies , top management support and work attitudes of gay and lesbian employees. Personnel Review, 29(3), 346-363. 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A Question of Trust: LGBT Visibility in the Workplace 14 About the research manager Ben Capell is an academic researcher and organizational consultant specializing in the areas of developing trust, diversity and leadership. He is a lead member and a head researcher of the Future of Work Chair of ESADE Business School, a research unit that is dedicated to foresee and affect changes in the world of work. Ben´s international career includes various consultancy and people development roles. He worked with several leading companies and educational institutions. Between the years 2004 and 2011 Ben worked for Hewlett-Packard where he held senior internal consultancy and management roles in the area of leadership development and diversity and talent management. Promoting the inclusion of LGBT employees at work is one of Ben’s main areas of focus- ever sense working for HP he dedicates a major part of his consultancy and academic activities to help organizations make progress in this area. Ben has lived and worked in Israel, USA. Japan and Spain. He holds a Masters of Research in Management, Masters degree in Clinical Psychology and a B.A. in Human Resources Management and he is pursuing his PhD degree in ESADE. Ben speaks various languages including English, Hebrew, Japanese, Catalan and Spanish. 15 A Question of Trust: LGBT Visibility in the Workplace