Kinsey B. Bryant-Lees and Mary E. Kite
This study aimed to experimentally investigate whether disclosing one's sexual orientation while applying for a job would impact hiring decisions.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to experimentally investigate whether disclosing one's sexual orientation while applying for a job would impact hiring decisions.
Design/methodology/approach
The experiment employed a 2 (Applicant Gender: Male/Female) × 2 (Applicant Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual or Gay/Lesbian) × 2 (Job Type: Masculine/Feminine) between-subjects design. Participants (N = 349) were randomly assigned to one of eight applicant conditions. They were first presented with a job description, followed by a cover letter displaying the applicants' qualifications, gender and sexual orientation. Participants evaluated the applicant's competence, social skills and hireability, and provided self-reports of their attitudes toward gays/lesbians and traditional gender roles.
Findings
The results demonstrated a distinct pattern of discrimination toward gay/lesbian applicants who were rated significantly lower in competence, social skills and hireability than were heterosexual applicants. Additionally, using multigroup structural equation modeling, we found that sexual orientation differentially impacted the relationship between attitudes and hireability ratings; negative attitudes toward homosexuality, beliefs about sexual orientation as a choice and belief in traditional gender roles were significant predictors of hireability ratings for gay/lesbian applicants, but were unrelated to evaluations of heterosexual applicants.
Research limitations/implications
The current study highlights the underlying mechanisms involved in hiring discrimination against Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans (LGBT) workers including lower evaluations of competence, social skills and structural differences in the impact of attitudes. These direct links must be explicitly addressed for continued progress related to equality, diversity and inclusion in Human Resource Management (HRM). Continued multidisciplinary research that considers gender identity and sexual orientation signal salience, consequences of specific career stereotypes, regional differences and the effects of societal shifts in attitudes overtime will continue to improve our understanding and drive us toward a more equitable future.
Practical implications
By identifying the underlying mechanisms involved in hiring discrimination, this study highlights the need for diversity trainings that go beyond the blanket approaches to diversity management and explicitly address conscious and unconscious biases that may influence the hiring process. Additionally, it is critical for organizations to provide top-down support from leadership, and implement mechanisms that allow LGBT voices to be heard and feel comfortable in their work environment to reduce the psychological strain.
Social implications
Prior to the recent landmark ruling by the Supreme Court on June 15, 2020, which extended the 1964 Civil Rights Act workplace protections to gay, lesbianand transgender employees, in many places across the United States Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) identifying workers could still be legally discriminated against. The pattern of discrimination identified in the current study provides clear evidence that these protections are necessary, and long overdue.
Originality/value
This study identifies two clear patterns of hiring discrimination: (1) lower hireability ratings and (2) structural differences in the evaluative process for gay/lesbian applicants. These findings provide experimental evidence, currently lacking in the literature, that support survey-based and qualitative findings of LGBT's experiences, and demonstrate how negative attitudes, irrelevant to the qualifications of an applicant, seep into hiring decisions.
Details
Keywords
Yohann Mauger and Kinsey Bryant-Lees
The current study has two major aims: (1) investigate the factor structure and importance ratings of attributes in France vs Poland and (2) compare the importance ratings of the…
Abstract
Purpose
The current study has two major aims: (1) investigate the factor structure and importance ratings of attributes in France vs Poland and (2) compare the importance ratings of the attribute signals sent by potential employers during the recruiting process across four different types of job seekers (i.e. new entrants, short-term unemployed, long-term unemployed and currently employed).
Design/methodology/approach
First, using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the authors compare the fit of several proposed models and identify the best fit using the combined job seeker sample. The authors then examine the fit of the selected model for the France and Poland samples separately. Finally, we compare the attribute importance rating factors across groups using a Country by Job Seeker multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).
Findings
The CFA results on the combined sample showed that a six factor-solution with two higher-order factors (organization- and job-attributes) provided the best fit and held for both France and Poland. MANOVA results showed a significant interaction between type of job seeker and country for organizational characteristics, and main effects of country and job seeker for work–life values and characteristics.
Originality/value
Most past research on the importance of job attribute factors focused on new entrants in the United States. This study provides the first examination of job attribute factors across different countries, France and Poland, and other types of job seekers.