THE shocking levels of abuse faced by LGBT+ people at work are laid bare in a TUC report published today.
More than half have experienced bullying and harassment at work in the past five years, with the proportion even higher for young workers, it found.
Two-thirds of 18 to 24-year-olds polled said they had experienced some form of bullying, harassment and discrimination, compared with 52 per cent overall.
The union federation called on ministers to change the law so that employers have a legal duty to properly protect their staff from harassment at work.
A teacher, who requested anonymity, told the survey: “I’ve been asked how we have sex by colleagues in the staff room.
“Even before I was out to anyone, my head teacher said to me: ‘No-one would ever say it, but if you look like a lesbian, you’re not going to get a job in a primary school.’
“People don’t guess that I’m gay, so I hear the homophobia all the time. I just can’t believe it.”
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’re experiencing shockingly high levels of bulling and harassment, including assault.
“Workplace culture clearly needs to change. Ministers must change the law to put the responsibility for preventing harassment on employers, not victims.
“We need stronger workplace rights to protect all staff from abuse at work. Good, secure jobs are essential to building a motivated, healthy workforce — and are what every worker deserves.”
The survey found that around one in five LGBT+ people had been exposed to verbal abuse at work in the last five years.
More than a quarter said told of having homophobic, biphobic or transphobic remarks directed at them or made in their presence.
And one in 20 told the TUC that they had experienced physical violence, threats or intimidation at work because of their sexual orientation.
Revealing the toll of the abuse on LGBT+ workers, one in three said they had lost confidence at work following the incident(s).
Just one in six said they reported the harassment to their employers. Of those who did, only 47 per cent said their complaint had been taken seriously.
