Hoel, Helge, Lewis, Duncan, Einarsdottir, Anna orcid.org/0000-0001-8689-6351 et al. (1 more author) (2022) Openness about Sexual Orientation and Exposure to Workplace Bullying. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. p. 1.
Abstract
Previous studies of workplace bullying have not investigated whether Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) employees experience bullying in similar or different ways to their heterosexual counterparts. This study reports on how and to what extent sexuality or sexual orientation influences the experience of workplace bullying and whether openness about sexual orientation elevates risks and shapes exposure to bullying. Using a large and rigorously compiled sample of the British working population comprising 500 non-heterosexuals and 722 heterosexuals (N = 1,222) and applying latent Class Cluster Analysis, a similar behavioural pattern of bullying for LGB employees emerged as for heterosexuals, although LGB employees were 1.34 times more likely to be bullied, and not being open about their sexual orientation elevated the risk of bullying. LGB employees were also more likely to be exposed to intrusive, sexualized behaviours and behaviours of an exclusionary nature. Altogether, this suggests that prejudices and stereotyping towards LGB people persist. Whilst being open about their sexual orientation did not make LGB people more likely to become a target of bullying as hypothesized, those who only reveal their sexual orientation when asked, were significantly more likely to be exposed to negative acts than those who were totally open. This indicates that non-disclosure does not prevent others at work making assumptions of sexual orientation, indicating that stereotyping of LGBs plays a greater part in disclosure than has previously been acknowledged.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | ©2022, The Author(s). |
Keywords: | Workplace bullying; sexual orientation, LGBs (lesbians, gay men and bisexuals); stereotyping; disclosure. |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Social Sciences (York) > The York Management School |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 14 Jun 2022 11:00 |
Last Modified: | 16 Oct 2024 18:22 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.16993/sjwop.164 |
Status: | Published online |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.16993/sjwop.164 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:188013 |