A global examination of LGBT workplace equality indices

Crehan, Philip, Daly, Felicity, Fletcher, Luke ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7238-3480 and Pichler, Shaun (2021) A global examination of LGBT workplace equality indices. In: Handbook on Diversity and Inclusion Indices: A Research Compendium. Research Handbooks in Business and Management . Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, pp. 230-251. ISBN 9781788975711 (print); 9781788975728 (online)

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Abstract

Around the world, the legal, social, and economic position of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people is highly variable. In some countries, the expression of same-sex love and non-conforming gender identities is punishable with a death sentence, whereas other countries prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The acceptance of LGBT people is on the rise in many countries, as is inclusion and support by private sector organizations, e.g., in the form of non-discrimination policies, inclusive diversity training, employee resource groups and so forth. One important outcome of the increased inclusion of LGBT people in the private sector is the tracking of LGBT-supportive policies and practices through benchmarking in the form of workplace equality indices. This chapter offers one of the first cross-national analyses of various LGBT workplace equality indices. Given the stark differences between countries on LGBT issues, we provide an overview and in-depth analysis of five workplace equality indices from different parts of the world. In chronological order by the first dissemination of each index, this examination included organizations from the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, South Africa, and Peru. We also compare and contrast each benchmarking tool in an attempt to understand patterns and differences between indices.