Scary reality: more than half of LGBTQ+ people feel discriminated against at work. Does this also apply to the Czech Republic?
This study comes from the EduBirdie platform and highlights the negative experiences of LGBTQ+ employees in the workplace. According to the results, 70% of LGBTQ+ people feel lonely, misunderstood, marginalised or excluded at work. The survey also reveals that 59% of queer employees believe their identity has hindered their career progression, 44% have had to leave a job due to discrimination and 45% believe they have been overlooked for promotions because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The study was created by surveying 2,000 people over the age of 18 who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Participants were randomly selected without focusing on a specific ethnic or social background.
Discrimination has a more serious impact on LGBTQ+ employees than many can imagine. Nearly half have experienced imposter syndrome (a psychological phenomenon where an individual has persistent feelings of incompetence, self-deprecation and inferiority despite having sufficient education, experience and accomplishments), and 45% of employees have avoided company events due to discomfort. More than half have changed their appearance to blend in. Many are concerned about discrimination if they reveal their identity in the workplace, and nearly a quarter fear for their safety.
Psychologist Dr Jenna Brownfield highlights the importance of supporting LGBTQ+ employees and building a work environment that responds immediately to anti-LGBTQ+ speech. She also recommends more queer employees in leadership and decision-making positions to create a truly inclusive environment.
Where does the Czech Republic stand?
New data from Reboot Online shows that the Czech Republic is one of the three countries with the greatest improvement in LGBTQ+ inclusivity since 2019. The study is based on the LGBTIQ Survey III conducted by the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) and focuses on three key metrics: openness in the workplace, discrimination against job applicants and harassment.
This year, the Czech Republic achieved an overall score of 6.90 out of 10. However, the 'openness in the workplace' score (6.55) indicates that more than a third of LGBTQ+ employees in the Czech Republic often or always hide their identity at work, highlighting ongoing concerns about discrimination.
The FRA survey also revealed that 35% of Czech respondents had experienced discrimination in at least one of these three areas in the last year, which is comparable to the EU average (37%). Interestingly, these figures are also being sought to improve by large corporations such as Vodafone, Microsoft, Danone, ČSOB and Ikea, which last year called on Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala to support marriage equality for same-sex couples.
In turn, Open For Business research shows that the unequal status of LGBTQ+ individuals has a significant economic impact that can reach up to CZK 37.6 billion a year. This figure highlights the importance of promoting equality and inclusivity not only from a moral but also an economic perspective.
