Creating a LGB-friendly workplace is essential for a business to thrive, says Richard Lane
Being authentic is a key attribute shared by successful people. In law, as in any other sector of employment, this holds true; not only do authentic people achieve their targets, they inspire confidence around them and act as role models to their peers.
However if you are lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB), being authentic may be more challenging if you’re working in the legal sector. From the outside looking in, the profession can be mystifying, tied up with tradition, and only welcoming to those who fit a narrow stereotype. And being LGB certainly doesn’t fit it. It’s hard to be authentic if you feel unable to talk about your partner, or where you went at the weekend. If homophobic comments are passed off as banter in the office and go unchallenged, then the likelihood that someone can be LGB and authentic will be even lower. In the war for talent and the need to secure the best performance from every employee this isn’t just bad business sense—it’s untenable.
