What is Giving Compass?
We connect donors to learning resources and ways to support community-led solutions. Learn more about us.
Giving Compass' Take:
• This report highlights workplace experiences for LGBT+ employees, indicating that there are still ways to improve the working conditions for these individuals.
• What workplace policies can help the LGBT+ population feel more comfortable in and protect them from workplace harassment?
The Institute of Physics, Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry have been working together to create a network of support for members of the physical sciences community who identified as LGBT+, and their allies. We established a LGBT+ member-led steering group to oversee this work.
To investigate the needs of LGBT+ physical scientists, we surveyed those working in the physical sciences in the UK and Ireland to explore the current climate for LGBT+ physical scientists. The survey was followed by a series of individual interviews. This report presents a summary of our findings and a number of actions for individuals, employers and professional bodies to improve the climate for LGBT+ physical scientists.
The data and analysis have allowed us to take a small step in understanding the types of issues that face our LGBT+ community. It is clear that we need to make more progress in ensuring we have inclusive working environments for all LGBT+ scientists.
Key Findings:
- Doing the best for science means retaining LGBT+ scientists.
- A significant proportion of LGBT+ physical scientists had experienced or observed exclusionary behaviour.
- Implementation of workplace policies and practices is uneven
- Workplaces with visible LGBT+ physical scientists were felt to be more comfortable
- Scientists are in an international community and not all cultures are as inclusive
- Networks bring LGBT+ scientists together, helping to alleviate isolation, exclusion and marginalisation
- Despite progress, the current workplace climate experienced by LGBT+ physical scientists is uneven
Areas for Increased Action:
- Building a visibly welcoming community.
- Reviewing and improving policies
- Introducing and improving training
Read the full report about workplace conditions for LGBT+ physical scientists by Jennifer Dyer, Angela Townsend, Sheila Kanani, Philippa Matthews, and Ale Palermo at the Institute of Physics, Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Society of Chemistry.
The actions are demanding. For small companies faced with the potential of client push back or for higher education institutions feeling the pressure of government monitoring of academic freedom, it is all too easy to make decisions that undermine other efforts being made to support LGBT+ employees. Building a truly inclusive workplace is not going to be risk free.