Top LGBTQ Friendly Industries in the US
The research has revealed the most inclusive industries and companies to work for if you’re part of the LGBTQ community in the US.
These are the Best LGBTQ Friendly Industries to Work for in America
Equality in the workplace, thankfully, has come a long way but some workers still face discrimination due to the gender they identify as or their sexual orientation.
Research by personal finance blog OverdraftApps.com and The HRC (Human Rights Campaign Foundation) has shined a light on the most LGBTQ friendly industries to work in as well as the states with the most LGBTQ friendly companies.
The winners and losers might surprise you, with industries that are typically seen as gay-friendly –such as Fashion– scoring very low, while industries not often associated with being overly LGBTQ friendly –like Insurance and Law– coming in at the top.
When we say that a company is (or is not) LGBTQ friendly, what do we mean? In the 2018 Corporate Equality Index conducted by HRC, they examined 947 companies that employ millions of people across the US in a range of sectors and rated them on four key areas to establish how LGBTQ inclusive their workplace is, giving a final score out of 100.
The criteria covers:
- Non-discrimination policies
- Equitable benefits for LGBTQ workers and their families
- Company internal education and accountability to promote LGBTQ inclusion
- The companies public commitment to LGBTQ equality
Which Companies Support LGBTQ Rights? (And which companies don’t…)
Workplaces across America are becoming more diverse and safer places for people who identify as LGBTQ. Yet, with all the positive strides being made there are still some industries failing to keep up.
If you identify as LGBTQ, what are the friendliest industries for you to work in?
The results of the HRC report had surprises. Some companies have done better or worse than you might have expected while others fall exactly where you would expect them to.
Banking & Finance topped the list which comes as a bit of a surprise, with Wall Street not exactly known for being gay-friendly. However, Ally Financial Inc, Citigroup Inc, Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo are just a few of 79 banking and finances companies that achieved perfect scores across all criteria.
On the opposite end, many of the industries falling towards the bottom of the list might not surprise you to be there. Industries such as mining, freight, and engineering, that are typically known from being dominated by straight males, all scored low across the criteria. Unfortunately, these industries aren’t keeping up with the pace of change and need to do more to create an inclusive workplace for LGBTQ employees.
With the VP’s own wife teaching at a school that does not admit LGBTQ teachers or students, it probably comes as no surprise that education is right at the bottom of the list. LGBTQ educators across the US face more challenges than workers in any other industry and are struggling to be their authentic selves at work for fear of discrimination.
The biggest shock on the list is certainly Fashion, with just 8 companies in the industry scoring a perfect 100, only one-tenth of the amount of Banking and Finance.
With so many great designers such as Tom Ford, Andrew Logan, and Alexander McQueen coming from the LGBTQ community it seems a little bit out of sorts that as an industry they are not doing more to create LGBTQ friendly workplaces.
What are the Best and Worst Industries for LGBTQ Workers in America?
What is Americas most LGBTQ Friendly State?
OverdraftApps.com have taken a closer look at the data and created a map of the states which house the headquarters of the companies in America which have been deemed the most LGBTQ friendly.
LGBTQ employment discrimination in the US is regulated by jurisdiction creating wide disparities in the legal protection that LGBTQ communities have in the workplace from state to state.
As you might expect, California, Illinois, and New York are home to the most LGBTQ friendly companies, with companies in these states making up 17% of the total list of LGBTQ friendly companies.
These three states top the list time and time again for being LGBTQ friendly in various ways. They all have state non-discrimination laws that protect people from discrimination based sexual orientation, which ensures companies operating in these states will have non-discrimination policies in their business.
Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana came in last with just 0.3% of LGBTQ companies on the total list coming from these states. All three of these states don’t have non-discrimination employment laws protecting LGBTQ individuals which have contributed to the fact that they are some of the least friendly states for LGBTQ workers.
The Impact of Employer Equality on LGBTQ Personal Finance
Research by OverdraftApps.com shows that lack of equality, due to sexual orientation or gender identity, in the workplace has serious negative effects on LGBTQ persons financial wellbeing.
Many within the LGBTQ community say that discrimination at work has had a significant effect on their finances and it’s clear that this form of discrimination is still prevalent even in professional settings. 62% of those surveyed by Experian cited their sexual orientation or gender identity as a reason for financial challenges due to challenges faced at work.
Some of the main challenges they face are:
- Discrimination or harassment at work (13%)
- Not being considered for jobs (12%)
- Being given a lower salary compared to the general population and less inclined to be given a promotion (10%)
The LGBTQ community in America is safer than it has ever been before but that doesn’t mean that we have reached equality. While things have certainly improved over the years, there is still a long way to go to create safe workspaces for everyone across the country.
Laws have improved over the years but changes still need to be made to give LGBTQ employees the same protection as other groups. For example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 gives employees protection from discrimination based on race, color, sex or religion, but there is no mention of sexual orientation or gender identity within the Title.
How are American Employers Moving Forward and Creating More Inclusivity?
On the whole, inclusivity is improving, this year a record number of companies, 609, scored the highest available score in HRC’s survey. While positive steps are definitely being made, the fight is far from over.
HRC has currently recruited 104 of the top American businesses, that employ over 5.8 million people, to co-sponsoring the Equality Act. The Equality Act would provide groundbreaking legislation to improve inclusivity in the workplace and protect eh LGBTQ community.
The legislation aims to protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination under federal law (something they don’t currently have) giving them the same protection from discrimination as other protected groups in the US.
The Equality Act would not only benefit the LGBTQ community but other employees and employers as well. It will help create a diverse and inclusive workforce that will fuel innovation and grow the talent pool for companies.
