Jim Beaux
09-18-2008, 12:55 PM
Majority of Americans Agree That Transgender Employees Should Be
Judged by Job Performance, Not Gender Identity
New Workplace Report also Shows that Majority of Americans Support
Marriage-Like Benefits for Same Sex Couples in the Workplace
Last update: 12:50 p.m. EDT Sept. 2, 2008
Harris Interactive
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sep 02, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE)
-- According to a recent national survey, seven out of ten
heterosexual adults (71%) agree that how an employee performs at their
job should be the standard for judging an employee, not whether or not
they are transgender. The new survey also showed that nearly eight out
of ten (79%) heterosexual adults strongly or somewhat agree that how
an employee does his or her job should be the standard for judging an
employee, not their sexual orientation.
The survey also revealed that a majority of heterosexual adults are
supportive of marriage-like workplace benefits for same sex couples
virtually across-the-board. For example:
-- Three out of four (75%) heterosexuals feel that spouses of married
heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and lesbian
employees both should receive leave when they lose a spouse/partner or
close family member.
-- More than two-thirds (68%) of heterosexuals feel that spouses of
married heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and
lesbian employees both should receive leave rights for family and
medical emergencies as outlined in FMLA.
-- And, almost two-thirds (64%) of heterosexuals feel that spouses of
married heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and
lesbian employees both should receive untaxed health benefits under
federal law.
These are some of the key findings from the 7th annual national Out &
Equal Workplace Survey, whose outcomes are captured for the first time
in a comprehensive Workplace Culture Report, highlighting the trends
towards full acceptance in today's workplaces towards LGBT employees,
their partners, spouses and families.
The 2008 Out & Equal Workplace Survey was conducted online by Harris
Interactive(R) in conjunction with Out & Equal and Witeck-Combs
Communications, among 2,637 U.S. adults, of whom 343 self-identified
as, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT)1. Beginning in 2002,
this survey is an annual barometer of attitudes surrounding LGBT
issues in the workplace and is the longest-running survey of its kind.
…
In addition, support for equal access to benefits in the workplace is
almost as strong and also appears unchanged from recent years. Almost
two-third (64%) of heterosexuals strongly or somewhat agree that
regardless of their sexual orientation, all employees are entitled to
equal benefits on the job, such as health insurance for their partners
or spouses. Also, nine out of ten (90%) heterosexual adults said they
would feel indifferent or feel positively upon learning that a
co-worker was gay or lesbian, compared to one of ten (11%) who said
that they would feel negatively.
Although attitudes and conditions are improving, LGBT respondents
still report experiencing discrimination and many still feel the need
to conceal their sexual orientation:
-- About two of three (65%) of gays and lesbians faced some sort of
discrimination in the workplace.
-- Nearly half (47%) of gays and lesbian adults heard anti-gay
comments on the job.
-- More than one-third (36%) of gays and lesbians say they remain
closeted at work.
-- One out of five (20%) gays and lesbians report being harassed on
the job by co-workers.
The survey also suggests that public education is needed on the lack
of protections that exist today in the workplace for LGBT employees.
Despite high numbers of support for LGBT rights, six out of ten or 61
percent of heterosexuals are still unaware that under federal law it
is legal for an employer to fire someone because they are lesbian,
gay, bisexual or transgender. Also, nearly three out of ten (29%) of
gays and lesbians are unaware that under federal law it is legal for
an employer to fire someone because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender.
More
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/majority-americans-agree-transgender-emplo\ (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/majority-americans-agree-transgender-emplo\yees/story.aspx?guid=%7BD2240470-EEB7-48C1-905A-A1CA1F8E99C4%7D&dist=hppr)
yees/story.aspx?guid=%7BD2240470-EEB7-48C1-905A-A1CA1F8E99C4%7D&dist=hppr (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/majority-americans-agree-transgender-emplo\yees/story.aspx?guid=%7BD2240470-EEB7-48C1-905A-A1CA1F8E99C4%7D&dist=hppr)
************************************************** ***********************************************
Personal comment. Note the survey was on-line. In the UK I would expect an on-line survey to skew results in favour of GLBT. USA readers can decide whether that effect would occur in the US.
Judged by Job Performance, Not Gender Identity
New Workplace Report also Shows that Majority of Americans Support
Marriage-Like Benefits for Same Sex Couples in the Workplace
Last update: 12:50 p.m. EDT Sept. 2, 2008
Harris Interactive
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. & ROCHESTER, N.Y., Sep 02, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE)
-- According to a recent national survey, seven out of ten
heterosexual adults (71%) agree that how an employee performs at their
job should be the standard for judging an employee, not whether or not
they are transgender. The new survey also showed that nearly eight out
of ten (79%) heterosexual adults strongly or somewhat agree that how
an employee does his or her job should be the standard for judging an
employee, not their sexual orientation.
The survey also revealed that a majority of heterosexual adults are
supportive of marriage-like workplace benefits for same sex couples
virtually across-the-board. For example:
-- Three out of four (75%) heterosexuals feel that spouses of married
heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and lesbian
employees both should receive leave when they lose a spouse/partner or
close family member.
-- More than two-thirds (68%) of heterosexuals feel that spouses of
married heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and
lesbian employees both should receive leave rights for family and
medical emergencies as outlined in FMLA.
-- And, almost two-thirds (64%) of heterosexuals feel that spouses of
married heterosexual employees and committed partners of gay and
lesbian employees both should receive untaxed health benefits under
federal law.
These are some of the key findings from the 7th annual national Out &
Equal Workplace Survey, whose outcomes are captured for the first time
in a comprehensive Workplace Culture Report, highlighting the trends
towards full acceptance in today's workplaces towards LGBT employees,
their partners, spouses and families.
The 2008 Out & Equal Workplace Survey was conducted online by Harris
Interactive(R) in conjunction with Out & Equal and Witeck-Combs
Communications, among 2,637 U.S. adults, of whom 343 self-identified
as, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT)1. Beginning in 2002,
this survey is an annual barometer of attitudes surrounding LGBT
issues in the workplace and is the longest-running survey of its kind.
…
In addition, support for equal access to benefits in the workplace is
almost as strong and also appears unchanged from recent years. Almost
two-third (64%) of heterosexuals strongly or somewhat agree that
regardless of their sexual orientation, all employees are entitled to
equal benefits on the job, such as health insurance for their partners
or spouses. Also, nine out of ten (90%) heterosexual adults said they
would feel indifferent or feel positively upon learning that a
co-worker was gay or lesbian, compared to one of ten (11%) who said
that they would feel negatively.
Although attitudes and conditions are improving, LGBT respondents
still report experiencing discrimination and many still feel the need
to conceal their sexual orientation:
-- About two of three (65%) of gays and lesbians faced some sort of
discrimination in the workplace.
-- Nearly half (47%) of gays and lesbian adults heard anti-gay
comments on the job.
-- More than one-third (36%) of gays and lesbians say they remain
closeted at work.
-- One out of five (20%) gays and lesbians report being harassed on
the job by co-workers.
The survey also suggests that public education is needed on the lack
of protections that exist today in the workplace for LGBT employees.
Despite high numbers of support for LGBT rights, six out of ten or 61
percent of heterosexuals are still unaware that under federal law it
is legal for an employer to fire someone because they are lesbian,
gay, bisexual or transgender. Also, nearly three out of ten (29%) of
gays and lesbians are unaware that under federal law it is legal for
an employer to fire someone because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender.
More
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/majority-americans-agree-transgender-emplo\ (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/majority-americans-agree-transgender-emplo\yees/story.aspx?guid=%7BD2240470-EEB7-48C1-905A-A1CA1F8E99C4%7D&dist=hppr)
yees/story.aspx?guid=%7BD2240470-EEB7-48C1-905A-A1CA1F8E99C4%7D&dist=hppr (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/majority-americans-agree-transgender-emplo\yees/story.aspx?guid=%7BD2240470-EEB7-48C1-905A-A1CA1F8E99C4%7D&dist=hppr)
************************************************** ***********************************************
Personal comment. Note the survey was on-line. In the UK I would expect an on-line survey to skew results in favour of GLBT. USA readers can decide whether that effect would occur in the US.