Understanding LGBTQUIA+ Staff Experiences

Staff Demographic Data

In 2023/24, 5.3% of our staff declared that they were LGBTQUIA+ by sexual orientation, compared to 4.7% in 2022/23.

In terms of the breakdown of specific sexual orientations declared:

Bisexual - 2.3% (1.9% in 2022/23)
Gay man - 2.1% (2.0% in 2022/23)
Other - 0.8% (0.8% in 2022/23)

72.4% of staff declared their sexual orientation, whilst 27.6% of staff chose 'Prefer not to say' or haven't answered the question yet. The declaration rate has increased from 61% since 2018/19.

In 2023/24, 0.24% of our staff declared that their gender is different to that which they were assigned at birth. However, in part due to the relatively recent introduction of this demographic question, the declaration rate is low at just 38.1%.

You can find more information about the data we collect and how we use it on our Diversity Monitoring webpage. You can also see institutional level diversity monitoring data here and progress against our Key Performance Indicators here.

All staff and students are encouraged to regularly review their personal information and ensure it is up to date.

Staff Culture Survey 2022

In 2022, the Social Inclusion Group ran a staff culture survey and focus groups to explore the sense of belonging and culture for staff here at Warwick.

You can find an overview of the institutional level results, along with more information about the survey here.

140 survey respondents indicated that they are LGBTQUIA+, which equates to approx. 9% of survey respondents. By comparison, 4.4% of staff have declared that they are LGBTQUIA+ on their staff record in SuccessFactors. This means that LGBTQUIA+ staff were well-represented in the survey, despite the relatively low sample size. The LGBTQUIA+ survey respondents thus represent over 40% of the known size of the LGBTQUIA+ staff community.

Overall LGBTQUIA+ staff inclusion rating

This rating is calculated from responses to the staff culture survey questions on staff’s ability to be themselves at work (authenticity), sense of belonging, and the sense that staff can achieve their full potential (equity).

The overall inclusion rating for all staff was 63% favourability ('agree' and 'strongly agree' responses), compared to 58% for LGBTQUIA+ staff. Breaking it down by the three contributing themes:

Authenticity: 71% favourability for LGBTQUIA+ staff (compared with 73% for all staff).
Belonging: 58% favourability for LGBTQUIA+ staff (compared with 65% for all staff).
Equity: 43% favourability for LGBTQUIA+ staff (compared with 47% for all staff).

Whilst following a broadly similar pattern across the three themes, LGBTQUIA+ staff show a lower favourability in each, with the largest difference occurring within questions on belonging.

Areas of greatest difference

Sense of Belonging

Whilst sense of belonging was an area of relative strength for the University overall, there was a significant drop in sense of belonging for LGBTQUIA+ staff. In particular, sense of belonging in their department (62% compared to 67%) and sense of belonging at the University as a whole (55% compared to 62%).

Support for Mental Health Inclusive Leadership

Similarly, inclusive leadership was identified as an area requiring improvement from an all staff perspective, but showed a significant further reduction in favourable responses from LGBTQUIA+ staff. In particular, just 41% of LGBTQUIA+ staff agreed that senior leadership's actions show they are genuinely committed to building an inclusive working environment, compared to 45% of all staff. An even greater reduction was found for LGBTQUIA+ responses when asked whether senior leadership value diverse perspectives, even if they are different from their own (just 30% of LGBTQUIA+ staff agreed, with 40% of all staff in agreement). A smaller, yet still significant reduction was found when staff were asked whether their team value diverse perspectives, with 65% of LGBTQUIA+ staff and 70% of all staff in agreement that they do.

Recruitment & Recognition Taking Action

LGBTQUIA+ staff were more likely to report feeling able to challenge inappropriate behaviours within the University (at 57% compared to 52%), an area highlighted as requiring improvement from all staff responses. The area of greatest uplift across all questions came in relation to personal action in support of social inclusion at the University; 69% of LGBTQUIA+ staff reported that they had taken action outside of their core job (in the last 6 months) to build an inclusive community, compared to 52% of all staff, a difference of 17 percentage points.

LGBTQUIA+ Staff Focus Group

SEA-Change Consultancy were asked to conduct a focus group for LGBTQUIA+ staff. During this focus group, participants spoke about the importance of inclusive language and the awkwardness and difficulties that can arise from people using inappropriate language and the wrong pronouns. Participants described it being easier to be open about their sexual orientation than about their gender identity.

Participants agreed about the importance of safe spaces where people can be themselves, and be around other people who understand what it is like to live in a heteronormative environment.

Participants had different experiences of being out and coming out at the University. There was a sense of anticipation about how colleagues might react or view them differently, and an awkwardness about not wanting to make a big announcement, but still wanting people to know. However, being out also had its pressure to be a ‘representative’ and being asked for their views or information about LGBTQUIA+ issues, which can be exhausting.