TSSA & Network Rail together at Pride

LGBTQ+LGBTQ+

Building LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace

LGBTQ+

Work is often where our members spend most of their days.

It’s a place to contribute, meet peers, grow and learn. Everyone should feel safe, supported and comfortable at work, but this is unfortunately not guaranteed. For lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) people, work can be a safe haven, perhaps the place where they first come out. However, it can also be a place of fear, where they feel unable to be themselves without experiencing discrimination or harassment.

LGBTQ+ people who feel able to bring their whole selves to work have increased energy, better performance and stronger relationships with their peers. The more you're forced to be somebody else or hide who you are, the more your happiness and performance at work will be affected. When you spend more time thinking about how to describe your weekend without outing yourself than on that looming deadline, you and your work will suffer. Simply put, people perform better when they can be themselves. Building Inclusive workplaces have a huge part to play in making this world a reality. But inclusion is not a given.  

The best employers understand why all their employees should feel welcome, respected and represented at work. They know that inclusion drives better individual, business and organisational outcomes. And they believe that staff must be able to bring their whole selves to work. Because when LGBTQ+ employees feel free to be themselves, everybody benefits. 

LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), and others. The "plus" represents other sexual identities including pansexual and Two-Spirit. The first four letters of the acronym have been used since the 1990s, but in recent years there has been an increased awareness of the need to be inclusive of other sexual identities to offer better representation.

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TSSA Helpdesk

0800 328 2673 United Kingdom

1800 805 272 Republic of Ireland

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Member advice from our Helpdesk

If you are a TSSA member and are looking for advice or assistance in connection with your employment or membership, you can contact our Members’ Helpdesk.

We can advise on a range of workplace issues including; discipline and grievance hearing, maternity rights and redundancy.

Helpdesk opening hours: 09:00 - 17:00 Monday - Thursday  |  09:00 - 16:00 Friday

Please note: we cannot undertake to provide advice to non-members, to members of other unions, or to members on behalf of their partners/friends. If you are not yet a member, please join TSSA online.

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