The Pink Ceiling is too Low – the experience of GLBT people in the workplace

The Lobby released a report with the University of Sydney entitled "The Pink Ceiling is too Low". To access the report, please click here.

This report was based on the experiences of 900 GLBT people from NSW, the ACT and Victoria. The report found that workplace discrimination is widespread and occurs in all occupations and industries, whether you work for a large or small organisation or whether you’re a boss or just starting out.

Discrimination at work takes a variety of forms. This varies from dismissal or abuse to more subtle forms of ostracism and exclusion. Ridicule belittling and homophobic jokes are among the most frequent. Harassment, destruction of property and violence also occurs in and around the workplace. Research into violence against lesbians has revealed that perpetrators are often work colleagues rather than strangers. Not surprisingly, discrimination has serious effects on health, work performance and career opportunities

Key findings of our research:

• 52.8% of participants had been the subject of harassment or discrimination in their current employment.
• 50.3% of participants were ridiculed in front of colleagues or subject to homophobic remarks or jokes in the workplace.
• 28.3% of participants had been the subject of aggressive, inappropriate or unwelcome questions about their status and 21.7% of participants had been ‘outed’ in the workplace against their will.
• 11.3% of participants had experienced verbal abuse, including threats of physical and sexual abuse.
• Over 17% of participants felt that their careers had probably been restricted because of their homosexuality.