The Society of Radiographers has reacted to a new report from the Trades Union Congress, which found that one in two LGBT+ employees have suffered bullying or harassment at work within the last five years.
The report, which was released last week, was conducted by Number Cruncher Politics on behalf of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). A total of 1,001 adult lesbian, gay, bisexual, transender and more (LGBT+) employees were surveyed for the report between 1 May 2023 and 20 November 2023.
It revealed that 52 per cent of respondents had experienced harassment or bullying at work related to their sexual orientation or gender identity in the previous five years. Across the full sample of LGBT+ workers, 37 per cent had experienced offensive jokes related to LGBT+ people in the last five years - just under two in five. This was the most highly reported type of bullying or harassment among participants.
The second highest reported type of bullying or harassment was being the victim of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic remarks, while the third was being made to feel uncomfortable in the workplace by people, for example, expressing stereotypes about LGBT+ people.
Around one in twenty participants - 5 per cent - said they had experienced physical violence, threats or intimidation at work, which they felt was because of their LGBT+ identity. Five per cent of respondents also said they had been subjected to homophobia, biphobia or transphobia from colleagues outside the workplace at work-related social gatherings.
'Unacceptable behaviours'
The report also found that 29 per cent of participants were not open about their sexual orientation with anyone at work. However, 38 per cent said they were open with everyone at work. Among the transgender employees surveyed, 28 per cent said they were not open with anyone at work, while 26 per cent reported being open with everybody at work.
The data showed that bisexual workers were more likely to report being made to feel uncomfortable in their workplace by others, compared to gay and lesbian workers. But on every measure, Number Cruncher Politics found that transgender respondents experienced higher levels of bullying, harassment and discrimination at work.
Peter Higgs, the SoR South West Regional and Equalities Officer, said the report was "shocking" and detailed unacceptable behaviours and attitudes being demonstrated towards people at work because of their sexuality.
"LGBTQI+ people have described that homophobic, biphobic and transphobic comments being directed at them in the workplace remains at shockingly high levels and as many as one in 20 report violence, physical threat or intimidation against them for just being themselves in the workplace," he said. "While the report is truly shocking, the extent of this discriminatory behaviour comes as no surprise to those from this community."
"The position is clear and simple. Such behaviours have no place in the workplace, any workplace and targeting people due to any of the characteristics that make us who we are must be called out and stopped.”
An ongoing process for LGBTQI+ people
James Barber, chair of the Society of Radiographers LGBTQI+ Equalise Workers Group, highlighted that, for LGBTQI+ people, 'coming out' is an ongoing process that can take different forms depending on their environment.
"It is often assumed that once someone has made the decision to 'come out' with regard to their gender or sexual orientation once in their life that that is the end of the story, and that from then on, it is a given that they will be happy to tell everyone in all aspects of their life," he explained. "The reality is that 'coming out' is much more commonly an ongoing process throughout the rest of your life.
"Every time you are in a new social circle or a new professional or educational setting, you often feel the need to assess that environment and see if you can continue to be 'out' there, or if there is an atmosphere of ingrained prejudice or acceptance of casual unconscious homophobic and transphobic language that makes you feel uncomfortable being yourself there."