Make an enquiry

    Enquiry Form









    Contact

      Enquiry Form






      Supporting Document


      Offices now in Sudbury and Braintree, with the acquisition of Steed and Steed Read More
      FJG Solicitors in Essex, Colchester, Chelmsford, London – Fisher Jones Greenwood
      • 0845 543 5700
      • [email protected]
      • Make an enquiry
      • Online Payment
      • Home
      • Services
        • Services for you
          • Advocacy
          • Civil & Commercial Disputes
          • Clinical and Medical Negligence
          • Conveyancing
          • Employment Law
          • Family Law
          • Children Law
          • Immigration & Visas
          • Notary Services
          • Personal Injury
          • Wills, Life Planning & Probate
        • Services for business
          • Academies Portal
          • Agricultural and Rural
          • Business Immigration
          • Commercial Dispute Resolution
          • Commercial Litigation
          • Professional Negligence
          • Commercial Property
          • Construction Law
          • Corporate and Commercial
          • Education Services
          • Employment Law
          • Healthcare Services
          • International Services
          • Landlord & Tenant Services
        • Services by sector
          • Agriculture & Estates
          • Care Homes
          • Charities & Social Enterprise
          • Construction
          • Education Law
          • Energy
          • Family Owned Business
          • Healthcare & Dentistry
      • Our people
      • About us
        • CSR
        • Awards
        • Our Vision
        • Accessibility
        • Careers
        • Work Experience
        • Equality & Diversity
        • FLOCC
        • FJG Foundation
        • SAFE Forum
      • News, Events & Insights
      • Blog
      • Podcasts
      • Contact us
        • Colchester
        • Chelmsford
        • Clacton-on-Sea
        • Billericay
        • Braintree
        • Frinton-on-Sea
        • Holland-on-Sea
        • London

      The Need for Diversity in the Workplace

      22 June 2015 by Marketing Team

      FJG Marketing
      Josh Price

      Following up from his article looking at diversity and equality in society, Josh Price from our Wills & Probate team now takes a look at the same issues in the workplace…..

      As with any workforce there will be a range of people of different genders, races, interests, work ethics etc. (and those are just the things you notice!). There will be many things about your colleagues that you might not know about them, and may well never find out about them, sexuality being one of them. In a survey from 2006, a staggering 49% of LGB (Lesbian Gay Bisexual) people go back into the “closet” when it comes to their jobs. Either because of actual homophobia or perceived homophobia should they “come out” at work, and looking at the statistics you can see why. Research carried out by Stonewall found that “nearly one in five lesbian and gay people, almost 350,000 employees in Britain, have experienced bullying from their colleagues because of their sexual orientation. Almost four million people (13 per cent of the national workforce) have witnessed verbal homophobic bullying in the workplace and over one million people (4 per cent of the national workforce) have witnessed physical homophobic bullying at work.”

      It seems despite many initiatives by larger companies to make their workplace a more inclusive place to work, an “OUTstanding” survey found that only 24% felt their middle management had an inclusive attitude towards colleagues who aligned themselves to being LGB or T.

      Despite these rather damning statistics, “more than nine in ten people are in support of laws introduced in 2003 protecting lesbians and gay men from discrimination at work.” Which suggests that discrimination against LGB people is carried out by a minority people.

      I myself weighed up the options of going back into the “closet” when it came to starting my career within a law firm as I felt my career was more important than my need to be myself. I found it very difficult when people would ask about my partner and I would respond “my other half” and refer to him as a “they” or a “them” which is exhausting trying to live a double life. Eventually those around me became aware of my sexuality, although as a firm it wasn’t open knowledge. When through my charity work with an LGBT charity my sexuality came up I decided to be honest with the firm. The response was as it should be, provided I could do the job I was hired for, what does my sexuality really matter?

      However, like any personal information people’s sexuality is something that they shouldn’t be forced to reveal, however like any personal information they should feel able to be open about it should they so wish. Rather than feeling that they have to use “gender neutral” pronouns such as partner or other half, everyone should be able to use boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife.

      Stonewall which is a long standing LGB charity which is the largest in both the UK and Europe, have carried out some pioneering research on the productivity of lesbian and gay staff in the workplace, found that gay staff who can be out at work in a safe environment are more productive than their gay colleagues who have to hide their sexual orientation at work and/or work in less inclusive environments.

      By changing the attitude within your workplace, or developing on the work your already doing within your work place can have a huge impact on the productivity of not just your LGB staff, but also their colleagues because the fundamental principles of equality and diversity span far further than just LGB or T rights.

      Josh Price is a paralegal in the Private Client team at Fisher Jones Greenwood.

      Authors
      Archives
      Subscribe to RSS feed

      Recent Posts

      • What is a section 91(14) order?
      • The need for improvements to patient safety within the NHS
      • I am not a Professional Cyclist
      @FJGSolicitors

      We've had a 5* review from Kevin: Great service https://t.co/o0xirphyXu

      13 hours

      Brush up on your knowledge with, Family Solicitor, Lisa's new blog. Lisa explains what a section 91(14) order is a… https://t.co/oiYCyW8jm6

      1 day

      We've had a 5* review from Martin: Conveyancing experience https://t.co/o0xirphyXu

      2 days
      Billericay 01277 623132
      Braintree 01376 552828
      Chelmsford 01245 890110
      Colchester 01206 835300
      Clacton 01255 323103
      Frinton 01255 514100
      Holland-on-Sea 01255 818900
      London 08455 435700
      Sudbury 01787 373387
      • Disclaimer
      • Accessibility
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Privacy Policy
      • Cookies
      • Price & Service
      • Signup to our Newsletter
      • COVID-19 Risk Assessment

      Fisher Jones Greenwood is the trading name of Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP, a Limited Liability Partnership authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and registered in England ( Number: OC305854 ). A list of members is available for inspection at the registered office at Charter Court, Newcomen Way, Colchester Business Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 9YA

      This website uses cookies & data collection

      Our website uses cookies, which are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit to distinguish you from other users. They are widely used in order to help website owners like us provide you with the best user experience possible. They also provide us with information that can help us improve our websites and marketing activities. By clicking an item or link on this website, you agree to the use of cookies and other data collection.

      Find out more

      We are welcoming clients back to our offices

      Differing tiers and three lockdowns later, Fisher Jones Greenwood Solicitors are now pleased to be able to welcome clients safely back to our offices.

      Remote working and the digitalisation of the way we work, have been key to keeping FJG and the rest of the country going.

      • We are now able to offer, pre-booked face-to-face appointments. Although, we are still able to offer remote appointments if preferred.
      • You can continue to visit our offices at any time to post any correspondence and documents through letterboxes.

      If you are visiting an FJG office, covid-19 safety rules of social distancing, hand sanitization, and the wearing of masks will still apply.

      • Please be aware you will also need to have your temperature taken on arrival.
      • There will also be protective screens in place to protect you and our staff.

      Please do not hesitate to contact your legal adviser by email or by telephone should you have any worries or concerns. Alternatively, please call our main switchboard number (01206 835300), and a message to return your call will be relayed to the relevant person.

      Best wishes
      Paula Cameron
      Managing Partner