What steps is the Minister taking to tackle the matter of sexual harassment of LGBTQ+ employees in the work place?
The Welsh Government wants all LGBTQ+ people to feel safe to live openly and freely as themselves at home, leisure or work without feeling threatened. Whilst many organisations are increasingly taking pride in their commitment to LGBTQ+ staff, customers and service users, discrimination and harassment in the workplace remains widespread.
We must challenge attitudes and change behaviours of those who behave abusively. There needs to be cultural change so that sexual harassment in all its forms is no longer tolerated. Over the next year our ‘Call out only’ campaign, which encourages the public to call out and challenge assumptions about harassment - often wrongly seen as ‘harmless’ with their peers, friends and colleagues, will include a focus on harassment of diverse groups as well as a focus on workplaces. The campaign will provide information to empower bystanders and promote a culture of equality and respect.
We are also working with our social partners and stakeholders to embed equality, diversity and inclusion into our approach to social partnership and fair work, and promote the benefits of a more equal, diverse and inclusive workforce. This includes working with employers, trade unions and others to promote and diffuse best practice and offer a ‘safe, healthy and inclusive working environment’; and raising knowledge and awareness of workers’ rights and avenues of support and redress.
Creating an LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace is one of the themes of our LGBTQ+ Action Plan, which is being refined following a public consultation.