MORE than a third of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have hidden their identity at work for fear of discrimination, a report says.
Research by Stonewall found the figure was even higher among trans staff, at 51%.
The charity said a survey of over 3,200 LGBT employees found that workplace bullying continues to be a “serious problem”.
Almost one in five have been the target of negative comments and a similar number said they were discriminated against while looking for work.
One in 10 black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT employees have been physically attacked by customers or colleagues in the past year, compared to 3% of white people, said the report.
Ruth Hunt, chief executive of Stonewall, said: “Over the past decade, leading employers across all sectors have shown a real commitment to inclusion and have taken positive steps towards LGBT equality.
“Unfortunately, the findings of our report show there’s still lots to do. The fact that more than a third of LGBT staff have hidden their identity at work for fear of discrimination shows that change is still very much needed.
“Creating a workplace that accepts everyone isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes good business sense. When staff feel comfortable and happy, they will perform much better than if they’re having to hide who they are. “
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