Sexual preference and overlooked minorities
Featured in the Valuing Diversity at Work training manual
By Ken Birkett & Val Rowland
Category: Diversity
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
Forward thinking organisations create workplaces that encourage the acceptance of diversity. They recognise that an atmosphere of equality of treatment, where all are comfortable, is the one where talents can grow and people will strive. Conversely, workers ‘know’ when they have a good employer and will often ‘go the extra mile’ to ensure continuing economic success. To achieve all this, some employers ensure that various minority groups are not disadvantaged in any way with regards to employment. Attention is given to issues of gender, ethnic origin, disability and other potential career inhibitors. Yet there is one minority group, a substantial minority group, which, although maybe mentioned in the words of the equal opportunity statement, often gets overlooked in the spirit and practice of its implementation. Gay men and lesbian workers of often experience prejudice, discrimination and harassment at work. How can that be so in an equal opportunity organisation?
This training activity begins with the participants completing a confidential questionnaire to focus their attention on some of the issues concerning discrimination against homosexuals in the workplace. They next consider the existence of prejudice in the workplace, the forms it takes and the reasons for it. The participants then give close attention to ways of alleviating discrimination by examining factors such as harassment, ‘coming out’, an equal opportunity policy and awareness training. A final review summarises the key aspects of prejudice, behaviour in the workplace and equal opportunity that the participants have investigated in the training activity.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to explore the issues affecting the employment of male and female workers with a homosexual orientation and to examine the nature and forms of prejudice.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 12 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:40:00 |
| No of Pages: | 18 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers as part of a recruitment and selection course, in supervisor training or as part of an equal opportunities package.
Download the training activity, Sexual preference and overlooked minorities as featured in the Fenman training manual; Valuing Diversity at Work