Being out at work
Many people will regard their colleague's sexual orientation as a private matter and we would not expect staff to inform the University or their line manager if they preferred to keep it a private matter. However, whether or not a staff member is open about their sexual orientation at work can impact on their performance. Research carried out by Stonewall (an organisation which promotes equality for LGB people) has demonstrated that staff that are out at work are overwhelmingly more content at work and consider that their performance improves too.
"People perform better when they can be themselves"
It can be difficult for some staff to decide if, and when, they should tell their colleagues. Coming out tends not to be a one-off process or statement. Each time they move job or a new member of staff starts work there is a decision to be made. They do not know if people will react differently to them if they do come out.
It could be argued that someone's sexual orientation has no relevance in the workplace. However, people do express their sexual orientation in a number of ways at work, such as:
- Family photos on their desk
- Talking about engagement parties or wedding plans
- Talking about their partner or children in the office
- Socialising with partners and colleagues socially or at work functions
- Talking about what they did at the weekend or on holiday
If there was someone in your team who was gay, lesbian or bisexual, and not out at work, it would be difficult for them to join in with these discussions for fear of accidentally "outing" themselves.
Stonewall research shows that in 2011 two in five gay people still do not feel able to be out to their managers, and three in four do not feel able to be out with clients or suppliers (Workplace Equality Index, 2011).
LGB members of staff are vulnerable to being outed against their will by students or colleagues - on purpose or inadvertently. LGB staff should be in control about who they are out to and when. If you do know that a member of staff is LGB don't always assume that they are "out" to everyone.
Deliberately outing a colleague or student is considered to be harassment and will not be tolerated as part of our values and behaviours.
