The construction industry has made significant progress over the last few years to be more inclusive, yet LGBTQ+ employees are still largely underrepresented. Of 24,000 staff surveyed by The Construction Leadership Council, just 1% identified as bisexual, 0.8% as gay and 0.2% as lesbian.(1) To mark Pride Month, we take a closer look at what the construction industry can do to create more inclusive, diverse and welcoming workplaces and how we’re implementing these actions at Elkins Construction.
Legal obligations
The Equalities Act 2010 provides a legal framework to protect people from discrimination and includes a legal obligation for all employers to carry out fair and equal recruitment, training and promotion processes, and working practices. While there are actions employers must take to ensure compliance, truly inclusive organisations are those that go above and beyond the necessary.
Showing support
In Construction News’ 2018 survey, 54% of LGBTQ+ construction workers said they felt uncomfortable being open about their sexuality on site(2). By publicly supporting LGBTQ+ organisations, charities and events, businesses can encourage open discussions at work, as well as demonstrate their position as an inclusive employer within the industry. Research published by McKinsey in 2020, revealed nine per cent of respondents had turned down, or decided not to apply for, a job due to a perceived lack of inclusion at an organisation.(3) Many construction businesses could be missing out on talented LGBTQ+ candidates due to the public perception of their company.
Equality policies
While verbally championing inclusivity is important, it is also necessary for construction organisations to have policies and procedures in place to ensure words are supported by actions. Having an Equality and Diversity Policy, which is promoted and upheld by everyone in the business, is vital. In a recent poll by the Chartered Management Institute, 44% of respondents said their employer had no workplace policy or guide relating to sexual orientation, equality or inclusion.(4)
At Elkins Construction, our Diversity and Inclusion Policy sets out our commitment to providing equal opportunities for all our employees, creating an inclusive workplace, and eliminating any unfair or unlawful discrimination. It also sets out our zero-tolerance approach to derogatory remarks or harassment.
Diversity training
Education is key to creating a more inclusive workplace. In many cases within the construction industry, there is a lack of diversity understanding, which creates a work culture where people do not feel understood or comfortable to be themselves without fear of discrimination. Taking the time to educate staff on why the business is addressing diversity issues and the benefits it can bring, will make it easier to get them on board and have a positive effect on workplace culture.
All Elkins employees receive training on our Diversity and Inclusivity Policy when they join the company. Additionally, we provide monthly toolbox talks on different topics, which are designed to keep them up to date with any changes to our policies and remind them of the company’s values. Our most recent toolbox talk focused on ‘Dignity and Respect in the Workplace’ and stressed the importance of treating everyone equally and not discriminating against someone due to their race, gender, sexuality or religious beliefs.
The benefits
Having a truly inclusive workplace not only ensures you meet your legal obligations, it also offers many business benefits, including the ability to attract and retain the best talent, increase the productivity and job satisfaction of existing staff, and improve your company’s reputation.
Elkins recognises that a talented and diverse workforce is critical to the long-term success of our business, which is why we seek to recruit, reward, develop and retain outstanding people, reflecting the diverse communities we work with. For us, it’s important our approach to diversity is not just about making sure we comply with equality law but also about valuing and drawing on the richness of differences, to benefit our employees and our business.
Keep up to date with all our latest news here and follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Sources
- https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/10.1680/jmuen.17.00026
- https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/data/data-news/lgbt-survey-constructions-slow-progress-laid-bare-25-01-2018/
- https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/understanding-organizational-barriers-to-a-more-inclusive-workplace
- https://www.managers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/sexual-orientation-gender-identity-discussion-paper.pdf
