How to tell if a job is supportive of LGBTQ+ workers

If you’re an LGBTQ+ person in the workforce, you know that unfortunately, you can’t take for granted that your gender identity or sexual orientation will be accepted at work. And if you’re considering switching to a new job, you may wonder how you’ll be treated in the new environment.

You may find yourself asking: Is this organization a good fit? Will I be accepted as my full self? How can I possibly know before accepting the offer?

At Empower Work, we regularly support people going through job changes and asking these big questions. If you’re an LGBTQ+ worker evaluating a potential new job, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Prioritizing cultures that support LGBTQ+ employees

Workplace culture has a significant impact on your well-being. If you’ve ever had a bad boss or toxic coworkers, or if you’ve dealt with discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, you know a bad dynamic at work can have a big impact on your mental and physical health.

Legally, LGBTQ+ workers are protected from discrimination, thanks to a 2020 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. But being legally protected from discrimination and being welcomed and supported at work are two very different things.

One recent survey found that a quarter of LGBTQ+ professionals have left a job because they did not feel accepted at work. Additionally, a quarter chose not to be out at work for fear of consequences.

Being in an unsupportive culture, whether or not you’re out, can take its toll. One person who reached out to Empower Work shared:

"I reported a homophobic remark…by my manager a few months ago, and the relationship had been tense for some time...I'm exhausted. I'm 46, I'm gay, and I'm tired...I don't feel like I fit in."

It’s normal to feel isolation, anger, fear, exhaustion, or some combination of those if your workplace doesn't accept who you are. But you deserve to have a job that doesn’t make you feel that way.

A job transition is a natural time to try something new. If you’re in a position where you have options, considering whether a workplace is supportive of LGBTQ+ identity as part of your job search can help you land somewhere where you feel more accepted as your full self.

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Finding supportive, LGBTQ+ friendly workplaces

It can feel impossible to understand an organization’s dynamic without experiencing it yourself. However, there are several tangible steps you can take before accepting a new job to figure out whether it will be a good fit.

Do your research

Gather as much information as possible before taking the job. You can find out a lot about an organization through some quick web searching and through their application materials.

Here are a few things to look for:

Look at their policies. Do they ask for gender pronouns in their application materials? Is there a required gendered dress code? Do their healthcare benefits include things like trans healthcare or parental leave for LGBTQ+ couples who adopt? How policies are crafted reflects an organization’s priorities. Consider what’s most important to you, and try to find those answers.

Look at their culture. Regardless of the organization’s policies, what do they actually do in practice? Read through any past posts for Pride Month, and see how (and whether) they talk publicly about actions to support LGBTQ+ workers. Ask what training or practices they have in place to further inclusivity. Look for signs of existing LGBTQ+ representation in the workplace, such as Employee Resource Groups. See if you can talk with a current employee to get their perspective.

Look at their reputation. Public forums and ranking sites can give insight into the organization’s reputation for supporting LGBTQ+ workers. Resources like the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign, your state’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce website, or even anonymous worker reviews on GlassDoor can provide useful information.

Research can help you discover the difference between what an employer tells you and what they show you. For example, if you ask someone directly whether their workplace is inclusive, they may tell you what you want to hear rather than the truth. One worker reached out to Empower Work and shared their experience of being misled:

"The nearest nongendered bathroom [to my office] is a 30 minute walk away...I'm angry. And frustrated...when I interviewed I told them I was trans and needed to feel respected in a workspace and they assured me "of course we're trans friendly!"

You can learn a lot about an employer through their policies, practices, and reputation. Gathering this additional information can give you a more complete picture of what working there would actually be like.

Trust your instincts

Even if everything looks good on paper, remember to trust your instincts.

When interviewing. Trusting your instincts is an important part of interviewing for a new job. Pay attention to what you notice throughout the process. Ask yourself: How do potential coworkers interact with me? What is the dynamic with my potential new boss? Did I notice any weird comments or glances that make me think I won’t be accepted? If something seems like a red flag, trust that.

When deciding to join. Trusting your instincts is also important when choosing whether to take a job. Not everyone has multiple job options, and you may feel like you have no choice but to take the job that’s offered. Ask yourself: What’s most important to me right now? What can I deal with? What support do I need? Consider your current circumstances and the potential tradeoffs as you make your choice.

When deciding to leave. Trusting your instincts can also help you discern if it’s time to leave a job. Maybe your role started off positively but the situation has changed. Maybe the workplace has stayed the same but you have changed, and you now need to be in a different environment or field.

Trusting your instincts means paying attention to how you feel, noticing your reactions, and being able to take action towards what you actually want.

At Empower Work, we often hear from LGBTQ+ people who are struggling in their workplace. Many are trying to figure out how to trust their instincts and what action to take. People have shared:

"I got a new manager 6 months ago, and that was the beginning of it. I was suddenly no longer invited to meetings, I was not included in key decisions, I was not provided training I requested - and to top it off - he used a homophobic slur. So I reported all of this to HR, and they magically found no one to substantiate the behavior. Less than a month later (not even that) I was given the choice I'm considering now - leave or accept a performance improvement plan."
"I need to change fields because of unsafe workplaces...as a trans person, I'm terrified to go to work."

Noticing and honoring these feelings—especially as they change over time—is the first step. No matter your situation, there is always a way to take action. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

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Protecting your well-being as an LGBTQ+ worker

Your safety and well-being matters. Your gender identity and sexual orientation are an integral part of you, and they should be celebrated. You deserve to thrive—at work and beyond.

If you’re trying to figure out whether a workplace is a good fit, or looking for support as you figure out what next steps to take, try reaching out to Empower Work. Our free, confidential support line will connect you with a peer counselor who will help you through your process. Text us now: 510-674-1414.

In the meantime, you can read our tips on navigating coming out at work or what to do if your sexual orientation or gender identity isn’t accepted at work.

If you’re frustrated, hurt, or wondering how to figure out if a new job is a fit, free, confidential support is just a text away: 510-674-1414.

*Note: Empower Work provides non-legal support for workplace challenges. This information, while authoritative, is not legal advice or guaranteed for legality. Employment laws and regulations vary by state. We recommend consulting with state resources for specific interpretation and decisions. If you believe you were discriminated against in violation of the law, we recommend you seek legal advice.