Less Pride, More Prejudice: LGBTQ+ employees find acceptance in Indian companies but challenges abound
LGBTQ+ commitments are growing louder in India Inc., at least on paper, driven by a younger and more socially aware consumer and talent pool
Are Indian firms inclusive of LGBTQ+ community?
Despite outward signs of advancements, LGBTQ+ employees globally face deep-rooted challenges and fears on the job, as per a study by HR services firm Randstad India
Less Pride, More Prejudice?
- Only 9.5% of the surveyed organisations had made significant efforts to be LGBTQ+ inclusive, of which a majority were MNCs
- 69.2% of surveyed organisations made limited efforts to be truly inclusive
- 23% of firms are consciously hiring LGBTQ+ members
- LGBTQ+ hiring limited to junior roles
Source: Survey by Randstad India
LGBTQ+ inclusivity
at workplace
P&G India says LGBTQ+ inclusivity reflects directly on its business results. Referring to a Vicks ad campaign called ‘Touch of Care’, which featured a transgender woman adopting children, HR Head Srinivas P.M. says the cold & flu product is a leader in its category. He added, “Many consumers want to relate to brands that have a shared value and belief with them and that translates into the love, preference and loyalty we see for our brands.”
Corporates’ attitudes
towards LGBTQ+ impact
quarterly results
Saundarya Rajesh, Founder and President of D&I consulting firm Avtar Group, says “Of the companies in our Most Inclusive Companies Index 2022, 82.5% have LGBTQ+ networks. About 70% of them engage on social media with LGBTQ+ candidates to say ‘Come, we are hiring’.”
Most Inclusive
Companies Index 2022
The LGBTQ+ community members are recognising their right to health and other insurance coverage. Health insurance provider Plum’s Co-founder and CEO Abhishek Poddar says one in 10 companies may proactively ask for LGBTQ+ cover, but the start-up managed to counsel about 90 per cent of its customer base to include it. The group medical cover can now be extended to same-sex or live-in partners and can include gender-reassignment surgeries
LGBTQ+ insurance
cover in India
- Lack of documentation and proof
- Lack of education, and skills as LGBTQ+ members often drop out from schools, colleges or jobs after facing homophobia or transphobia
- Issue of confidentiality, companies often rely on trust as candidates do not always have certificates to prove their gender-orientation
- LGBTQ+ hirings remain limited to lower-level, hence, they are not part of the decision-making process to ensure a policy change in their favour
Roadblocks in ensuring complete LGBTQ+ inclusivity
Axis Bank’s VP & Head (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Harish Iyer, who identifies as gender fluid and gay, speaks of an instance where a trans male candidate couldn’t get a relieving letter from his previous employer because he left in a hurry due to transphobia. Iyer, who failed Class 12 and at the MSc level, says, “My existence at Axis Bank itself speaks about our vision to look at talent from the lens of skills.”