A new report highlights the harsh reality of bullying and harassment that queer workers in the UK still face in the workplace.

A survey of 1,000 LGBTQ+ people conducted for the Trade Union Congress (TUC) found that 52 percent of respondents had been bullied or harassed at work at least once.

The survey, conducted by Number Cruncher Politics, also found that 19 percent of queer employees have been subjected to verbal attacks in the past five years, with more than a quarter saying they have had homophobic, biphobic or transphobic remarks directed at them or made in their presence.

And five percent said they had experienced physical violence, threats or intimidation because of their sexual orientation.

It is not surprising that almost 30 percent of LGBTQ+ people do not openly disclose their identity in the workplace, the TUC concluded.

Queer employees of Generation Z are more likely to experience harassment than older colleagues

According to the survey, queer workers of Generation Z, i.e. those aged between 18 and 24, experience higher levels of discrimination in the office in every respect.

Compared to the entire sample of respondents, 65 percent of queer Gen Z employees reported experiencing some form of bullying, harassment and discrimination in the past five years. 20 percent reported being bullied because of their sexual orientation, compared to 11 percent of LGBTQ+ employees of all ages.

Another group that appeared to be particularly highlighted were transgender employees: 79 percent of transgender respondents had been victims of workplace bullying, compared to 48 percent of the total sample.

The long-term effects of LGBTQ+ harassment in the workplace

Forty percent of those who had been bullied at work said their mental health suffered and they became more stressed, anxious or depressed. More than a third said they had lost confidence at work after the incident and six percent even went so far as to quit because of the abuse.

The work culture must change

Despite the rampant harassment, only 16 percent reported the bullying to their employer. A quarter of those surveyed told a colleague, but 40 percent told no one.

While nearly 50 percent of respondents who reported abuse said their complaint was taken seriously, 20 percent said it was ignored, and on average one in eight said they were not even believed.

According to the TUC, this shows that employers can improve their practices in dealing with bullying, harassment and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ employees.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “This new report shines a light on the extent of discrimination LGBT+ workers face in our workplaces.

“LGBT+ people should be safe and supported at work. But instead they experience shocking levels of bullying and harassment – including physical assault. The workplace culture clearly needs to change.”

It is up to ministers to change the law and “place the responsibility for preventing harassment on employers rather than victims,” ​​he added.

“Labour’s Workers’ Rights Bill, which will come into force in the first 100 days of this new government, will make a real difference. Ministers have promised to ban zero-hours contracts, raise the national minimum wage to £15 an hour as soon as possible and work with unions to ensure all workplaces are safe and inclusive for all.

“And employers must have a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of bullying, harassment and discrimination.”

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