“I care more about competence than sexual orientation. When will the council find a form that identifies that percentage?”

“It's good that the city council is an inclusive employer - it would be a news story if it wasn't. But the intro to this story should really finish with the words 'who applied to be part of a study', as it's only judged on what the entrants put on their entry forms.

If you look through the full 100, an overwhelming percentage are public sector, or corporate organisations with large HR departments. In other words, the sort of places where people have jobs which mean they can spend hours filling in these kind of surveys.

P_Bear - positive discrimination is already illegal.”

“I wonder if being lesbian, gay or bi-sexual is a requirement on the job description or person spec for the posts these people are appointed to? Just asking!!”

“janine2011 - The percentage of LGBT staff currently can be the same percentage of those forced to take compulsory redundancy. Its not about absolute numbers, it's about percentage.”

“Anything that is "positive discrimination" in favour of one group, is by definition, therefore negative discrimination against those who are not members of that group.
Quite frankly what the hell has it got to do with the council what the sexual orientation of its staff is? Certainly if I was asked that question by an employer I'd tell them to mind their own business ................then hit them with my handbag :)”

“What a load of old tosh.....who gives a jot”

“I take that none of these staff will be hit with compulsory redundancy as the council would lose their "recognition". Can't have any pat on the back then and that wouldn't do now would it? What happened to employing the best people for a job? Or is it that tick boxes are more important?”

“surely 'committed to equality' and striving to "improve the workplace for our lesbian, gay and bisexual staff" contradict each other unless the council is aware that it is already discriminating against employees in those groups? (in which case, it should be sorting out the discrimination).
The council SHOULD be working to make the workplace better for ALL staff equally, not giving priority to one group or another - and as Dave_Nottm says, what difference does someone's sexuality make in the workplace as long as they are free to do the best job possible - if they are prevented from doing that because they are discriminated against, there are plenty of employment laws that will allow those carrying out the discrimination to be 'removed' from being a problem.
Typical response to the idea of equality (sex, race, religion, whatever....). Put things in place that focus on the minority, thereby creating inequality.....”

“It doesn't make a difference. It's just another pat on the back for those who like being patted on the back. (Tom)”

“What the hell difference does it make in the workplace? More politically-correct time-wasting from the public sector.”