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Take greater pride in minority workers

Global player makes home-town call

Date posted
30 August 2024
Type
Press release
Author
Jeremy Waterfield
Estimated reading time
3 minute read

In the build-up to the Leicester Pride festival, this Saturday (31 August 2024), a Leicester-based global membership body for health and safety professionals has called on employers to do more to prevent bullying or harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) people at work.

The call comes from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), which has its head office in Wigston, has more than 50,000 members worldwide and is a sponsor of Leicester Pride 2024.

And it’s spoken out on the back of a new TUC survey of 1,000 LGBT+ people that revealed one in five had been exposed to verbal abuse at work in the last five years. More than a quarter of respondents said they had homophobic, biphobic or transphobic remarks directed at them or made in their presence.

A fundamental right

Zip Kruse, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead at IOSH, said: “A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work for everyone, recognised by the International Labour Organization. This includes mental wellbeing and safety for all employees, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Being treated less favourably because of your sexual orientation or gender identity is discrimination, whether it’s direct or indirect, and can take the form of victimisation or harassment."People tend to perform best when they can be themselves and employers can help facilitate this by leading from the front in developing strong inclusion strategies that continuously measure progress.”

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Zip went on to explain how employers should ensure their policies are fully inclusive of the needs of LGBT+ people, so they can take steps to guarantee that the mental health and psychosocial risks to minority groups are included in all risk assessments.

Businesses need to step up

With the increasing prevalence of work-related psychosocial risks and higher rates of stress, anxiety and depression, IOSH agrees that it’s high time businesses stepped up and gave all aspects of this problem the full focus that’s needed.

“Leadership commitment is crucial for the prevention and management of work-related psychosocial risks, while the rewards can bring huge benefits, not only to individuals but also to a business, with an estimated return of £5 for every £1 spent,” said Zip.

After joining the Pride parade through Leicester, on Saturday, an IOSH team will take to its Abbey Park stand to welcome festival visitors and hand out free material and IOSH takeaways for the day.

Learn how managers and workers can build a safe and healthy working environment, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Last updated: 06 September 2024

Jeremy Waterfield

Job role
PR & Public Affairs Executive
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IOSH
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