What Are the Main Reasons Companies Cite for Creating an LGBT-Friendly Workplace
Attract a wide talent pool of not only LGBT people but also their friends/family members and a larger share of young talent:According to Pew Research Center’s “Millennials: A Portrait of the Next Generation,” people ages 18 to 29 who are currently entering the workforce are quite “different from members of other generations when it comes to their experience with and exposure to gay people.” Of the more than 2,000 polled, 54 percent of millennials have a close friend or family member who is gay, compared with 44 percent of baby boomers (46- to 64-year-olds). These relationships strongly influence the social attitudes of tomorrow’s talent. Among millennials who have an open friend/family member, 65 percent said they favor same-sex marriage versus 51 percent of respondents older than 29.
Build greater brand loyalty: Companies with LGBT-friendly policies are favored by LGBT as well as allied consumers. A national online survey of more than 2,500 adults conducted by Harris Interactive/Witeck-Combs found that 70 percent of heterosexuals would consider switching to a brand if its workplace benefits were inclusive (as would 88 percent of LGBTs).
