Take greater pride in minority workers

The call comes from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), which has its head office in Wigston, has more than 50,000 members worldwide and is a sponsor of Leicester Pride 2024.

And it’s spoken out on the back of a new TUC survey of 1,000 LGBT+ people that revealed one in five had been exposed to verbal abuse at work in the last five years. More than a quarter of respondents said they had homophobic, biphobic or transphobic remarks directed at them or made in their presence.

A fundamental right

Zip Kruse, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead at IOSH, said: “A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work for everyone, recognised by the International Labour Organization. This includes mental wellbeing and safety for all employees, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Zip went on to explain how employers should ensure their policies are fully inclusive of the needs of LGBT+ people, so they can take steps to guarantee that the mental health and psychosocial risks to minority groups are included in all risk assessments.

Businesses need to step up

With the increasing prevalence of work-related psychosocial risks and higher rates of stress, anxiety and depression, IOSH agrees that it’s high time businesses stepped up and gave all aspects of this problem the full focus that’s needed.

“Leadership commitment is crucial for the prevention and management of work-related psychosocial risks, while the rewards can bring huge benefits, not only to individuals but also to a business, with an estimated return of £5 for every £1 spent,” said Zip.

After joining the Pride parade through Leicester, on Saturday, an IOSH team will take to its Abbey Park stand to welcome festival visitors and hand out free material and IOSH takeaways for the day.