Discrimination in Workplace Faced by LGBT Employees

Cross Cultural Management and Diversity Management

Equality Act 2010
This law has been a milestone in reducing workplace discrimination. The main reason for this act
was that it removed small and fragmented laws with one single Act which is all encompassing.
Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995
were the different regulations that were all brought under Equality Act in 2010.
There are certain issues that are still creating hurdle in discrimination. For example, cases of
discrimination that occurred before the year 2010 are to be dealt with under the regulations that
were there before the Equality Act 2010.
Here are the provisions of Equality Act 2010:
It has the basic framework that is protecting the workers against discrimination, victimization,
direct and indirect discrimination, harassment,
It has been a step ahead in gender reassignment as it has removed the need of medical
supervision.
Through Equality Act 2010 there is promotion of harmony in workplace by elimination of
discrimination.
To further with any research, it is vital that evidence of its existence is collected and then
theories are applied to understand the reason for its existence and then finally arrive at
recommended solution. In dealing with such topics, it becomes important to bring in Equality
Act of 2010, through which the rights of LGBT community is being protected.
Definition of LBGT
Used as initials of Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, it refers to the community of people
who have a preferred sexual orientation that is not similar to heterosexuality.
Discussion
What is discrimination?
As discrimination is large corpus and a variety of topics can be included in this vast topic, it is
not possible to discuss all of it under one major heading. In order to have a whole understanding,
with evidence, of topic it is vital that we deal with it in parts by picking one and elaborating.
With that same philosophy, there the problem of LGBT discrimination in workplace has been
picked up as topic for this assignment. To further with any research, it is vital that evidence of its
existence is collected and then theories are applied to understand the reason for its existence and
then finally arrive at recommended solution. In dealing with such topics, it becomes important to

bring in Equality Act of 2010, through which the rights of LGBT community is being protected.
The main aim of this regulation is protecting the people from LGBT discrimination, both direct
and indirect. Discrimination could come in the form of pay, selection, promotion, environment
and victimization. Adjacent to LGBT protection in Equality Act in 2010 there is also
reassignment category that protects transgender in workplaces against discrimination.
Essay Question
How discrimination in workplace is faced by LGBT employees?
The essay question will help in answering psychological questions as this is something that has
been taking a toll on the LGBT adults. The question has been answered with the help of several
literatures and an interview was conducted so that the essay is not only based on assumption,
rather has concrete evidence to draw conclusions.
Literature Review to Support the Essay Topic
Discrimination is a common case in workplace and there is no one kind of it. LGBT adults have
experienced discrimination and the reason being their sexual orientation. Although there has
been improvement seen in a changing environment, a lot of areas still needs to be worked up
on.1769 pair of fictitious resumes were send to as many as seven tables. Each pair had a resume
that was mentioning experience in a gay organization. The result was that 40 percent chances of
being called for an interview dropped for the resumes that have association with gay organization
(Nadal et al, 2011).
Studies show that around 42% if the LGBT adults face discrimination in workplace. The
employees who face workplace discrimination as a result of their orientation, have higher
chances of distress and also health issues compared to the employees who did not face
discrimination based on orientations. As a result of lower discrimination there are further
consequences that range from lower satisfaction and higher level of absenteeism and quitting.
LGBT adults have to face these issues on a regular basis and this has been dealt on with on a
regular basis by different NGOs but the change has to come from within. The base of change is
not sympathy but realization of equal rights and dissolution of the word ‘normal’ that has so very
stereotyped the society (Webster et al, 2018).
Alcohol abuse, distress, anxiety and depression have been seen higher in adults of LGBT adults
at workplace. This is contributing to unbalanced society which is going to be adversely affecting
the holistic and sustainable development of mankind (Roberts, 2015).
Marital rights are linked to workplace depression that is being displayed by LGBT adults. In
countries where LGBT adults are allowed to marry have lower incidence of workplace
discrimination than the ones where the rights are restricted. Though marital rights cannot directly

affect the workplace discrimination but it does exercises a considerable control on the
discrimination that is practice in workplaces (Monro, 2016).
Same is the case with adoption rights. Adoption has been denied in many of the nations and these
political and social laws have an effect on the psychology of the workers which makes its way
into the minds of employees and they socially are trained to be biased to LGBT adults. Not to
mention, the distress and instability that is faced by LGBT adults. Gay men who are allowed the
right to adoption are happy and are lesser prone to depression then in nations where there are
issues regarding the adoption right. The Government is going to play an important role in
influencing the workplace discrimination by laying its hands on social reforms. The social
reforms go a long way in affecting workplace discrimination.
When we are analyzing the discrimination against the group and how it is protected in Equality
Act 2010, we cannot fail to understand how other factors that are living outside the workplace
play a vital role in stimulating discrimination within the workplace. The research must also be
devoted in researching these outside factors, as, in reality, the professional and personal life of a
person gets mixed up and each is influencing the other (Roberts, 2015).
Source: (Roberts, 2015).
Theory of Relative Depravation
This theory goes on to state that Relative deprivation (RD) theory states that the perception of the
relative positions of one's group and an out-group in terms of status and privilege is
psychologically important. RD theory calculations for members of troubled groups comprise
augmented endorsement of confrontational acts, dwindled feelings of mechanism and life-