Being
'out' in the workplace felt to hinder careers in Hong Kong
As much of
the world celebrates Pride month this June, a new study commissioned by AXA
Asia has revealed that many companies in the region are
still falling short when it comes to fostering an LGBTQ+ friendly working
environment through Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) initiatives. The findings
underline key areas where action can help to tackle factors that affect the
mental health of LGBTQ+ employees, including acceptance, working culture and
the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Companies
often underperform on LGBTQ+ awareness and education at work
Companies play a
vital role in creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for employees, demonstrating
leadership in educating on both LGBTQ+ and broader I&D topics. However, the
study found that progress has been uneven. Hong
Kong companies as a whole were rated as performing more poorly on LGBTQ+
education in comparison to other I&D pillars such as gender parity or
racism, though international companies in both Hong Kong and the Philippines were
more likely to be seen as performing well (55% agree) compared with domestic
companies (36% agree) on LGBTQ+ I&D education specifically. Overall, corporates in Japan have been more visible in
supporting LGBTQ+ causes and communities in recent years, such as joining
Rainbow Pride Parades, but those in Thailand are less active, particularly in traditional
sectors like the police and the military, as well as education.
Yet
action is key for companies that are looking to thrive in a competitive post-pandemic
environment, with inclusion directly impacting talent recruitment and
retention. 70% of those surveyed in Hong Kong and the Philippines believe proper
I&D education in the workplace is important, while nearly half of
respondents indicated they’d be less willing to stay in a company that lacks
proper education on I&D.
Being ‘out’
can still be seen as a career obstacle
Though
the working environment remains an important part of daily life, the study
found that many LGBTQ+ people are still hesitant to be fully ‘out’ in the
workplace. While 61% of respondents in the Philippines made their sexual
orientation public at work, in Hong Kong only 16% are ‘out’ to all of their
colleagues. By contrast, nearly one in five (18%) respondents in Hong Kong
stated that no one at their workplace is aware of their sexual orientation.
Indeed,
being ‘out’ in the workplace is also seen in Hong Kong as a potential
hinderance to your career, where respondents feel that being identified as
LGBTQ+ impacts their prospects and development (31%). In the Philippines the
opposite is true, with respondents saying that they feel more able to be ‘out’
and their true selves, helping their careers in terms of their perceived
ability/performance (64%) and relationships with colleagues (63%).
“You wouldn’t be beaten up because of your sexuality, but you can feel the discrimination. You are ignored or excluded from activities. Some are even transferred to remote areas. [There are a] lack of opportunities or they just wait for you to resign.” said Maki Muraki, Representative of Nijiiro Diversity, Japan.
Gains have not been
reversed by the pandemic
Despite these continuing
challenges, there is a silver lining in that COVID-19 has not been felt to have
impacted social progress on the acceptance of LGBTQ+ in the workplace. The
overwhelming response from respondents in all four geographies is that although
COVID-19 has brought many challenges globally, the majority believe it has not
eroded acceptance levels or work on LGBTQ+ policies, with activities to raise
awareness continuing through online channels.
Gordon Watson,
CEO of AXA Asia said,
“Despite competing priorities amid the pandemic, continued awareness of the
issues facing the LGBTQ+ community and efforts to enact progress in wider
inclusion and diversity efforts remain vital, and the workplace is no
exception. Companies in Asia seeking to thrive in a
post-pandemic world must enable staff to bring their whole selves to work if
they are to attract, nurture and retain the best talent during times of change.”
The study was conducted using an online questionnaire involving select groups of self-identifying LGBTQ+ members in the Hong Kong SAR and the Philippines. The opinions of five leading LGBTQ+ influencers in Japan and Thailand were also incorporated to provide a rounded viewpoint on progress on relevant issues over the past 12 months. The report on the study can be downloaded here.