Workplace climate, degree of outness, and job satisfaction of gay and lesbian professional staff in higher education.
Year: 2009
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Issues of diversity across college campuses are seeing a growing acceptance, however, acceptance across diversity groups is not seen as uniformly accepting, especially among gay and lesbian populations who may often find themselves in hostile, unwelcoming, or uncomfortable environments. Despite the perception that universities have been sites for political and social changes concerning the gay and lesbian population, institutions of higher education still have room for further growth concerning gay and lesbian populations and homophobia, especially as it relates to staff members. Although there is substantial research related to gay and lesbian individuals and the workplace as well as educational environments and gay and lesbian issues, the research specifically on gay and lesbian professional staff in higher educational environments is sparse. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between workplace climate of gay and lesbian staff members in higher education, the degree to which participants have disclosed their sexual orientation in the workplace, and overall job satisfaction within their workplace climate. The subjects were 624 gay and lesbian professional staff members representing three divisions of higher education. All participants completed surveys on workplace climate, degree of outness, overall job satisfaction, and policies and procedures at their place of employment. Findings suggest that workplace climate is a predictor of job satisfaction. Additional findings indicate the presence of policies and procedures in institutions of higher education influence both degree of outness and perceived workplace climate when analyzed by sexual orientation and division.
Author: Robert B. Johnson
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1492221925