Workplace Discrimination

Workplace discrimination refers to the unwarranted negative and unfavorable treatment toward underrepresented, disadvantaged, and/or marginalized individuals groups in the workplace. LGBTQ workers disproportionately experience workplace discrimination due to their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. According to the Williams Institute (a think tank on sexual orientation policy in California), between 16% and 68% of LGBTQ workers, when surveyed, reported experiencing workplace discrimination. The same report noted that as many as 30% of heterosexual workers reported witnessing workplace discrimination against their LGBTQ colleagues. In some jurisdictions, LGBTQ workers are without specific legal recourse when [Page 1303]they experience workplace discrimination because there is an absence of laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity/gender expression as protected classes. This entry considers the history ...