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LGBT Workplace Inequality in the Federal Workforce: Intersectional Processes, Organizational Contexts, and Turnover Considerations

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  • Erin A. Cech
  • William R. Rothwell

Abstract

How do lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees fare in US workplaces? Beyond formal discrimination, do LGBT workers encounter biases that degrade the quality of their day-to-day workplace experiences? Using a representative sample of more than 300,000 employees in 28 “best case†organizations—federal agencies with LGBT-inclusive policies—the authors examine not only whether these informal workplace inequalities occur but also where and for whom they are most exaggerated. LGBT employees report worse workplace experiences than their colleagues across 16 measures of employee treatment, workplace fairness, and job satisfaction. These inequalities are amplified or tempered by organizational contexts and can even affect turnover intentions. They are also intersectional: LGBT women and people of color have consistently more negative experiences than do men and white LGBT workers. These results help map the landscape of LGBT workplace inequality and underscore the importance of considering intersectional and organizational contexts therein.

Suggested Citation

  • Erin A. Cech & William R. Rothwell, 2020. "LGBT Workplace Inequality in the Federal Workforce: Intersectional Processes, Organizational Contexts, and Turnover Considerations," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 73(1), pages 25-60, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:73:y:2020:i:1:p:25-60
    DOI: 10.1177/0019793919843508
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dario Sansone & Christopher S Carpenter, 2020. "Turing’s children: Representation of sexual minorities in STEM," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(11), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Mustafa F. Ozbilgin & Cihat Erbil & Sibel Baykut & Rifat Kamasak, 2023. "Passing as resistance through a Goffmanian approach: Normalized, defensive, strategic, and instrumental passing when LGBTQ+ individuals encounter institutions," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 862-880, May.
    3. Jing Wang & David Wicks & Chris Zhang, 2022. "Job‐related well‐being of sexual minorities: Evidence from the British workplace employment relations study," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(4), pages 841-863, December.
    4. Tamara L. Lee & Maite Tapia, 2021. "Confronting Race and Other Social Identity Erasures: The Case for Critical Industrial Relations Theory," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 74(3), pages 637-662, May.
    5. Marina Lacatena & Ferdinando Ramaglia & Federica Vallone & Maria Clelia Zurlo & Massimiliano Sommantico, 2024. "Lesbian and Gay Population, Work Experience, and Well-Being: A Ten-Year Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(10), pages 1-16, October.

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