Diversity Council Australia (DCA) has released early data from its 2025/26 Inclusion@Work Index, which found 46 per cent of LGBTQI workers had experienced discrimination and/or harassment at work in the past year, compared with 26 per cent of non-LGBTQI workers.
The survey of 3000 workers across Australia found a 24 per cent increase in workplace discrimination and harassment against LGBTQI people since the results from the council's 2024 survey.
The increase is not just about isolated incidents but persistent experiences of exclusion, the council's head of research Rose D'Almada-Remedios told AAP.
"Our research shows many LGBTQI workers face persistent everyday exclusion - things like being left out of social activities, having assumptions made about them or being ignored at work," she said.
"Whether intentional or not, these behaviours create environments where more serious harm is more likely to occur."
Almost 40 per cent of LGBTQI workers surveyed said they had been left out of work social gatherings and almost half said colleagues had made incorrect assumptions about their abilities based on their identity.
Periods of heightened societal polarisation around identity could create conditions where some people felt more emboldened to express prejudice or exclusionary behaviour at work, Dr D'Almada-Remedios said.
"That makes it even more important for employers to set clear expectations about inclusive and respectful behaviour and intervene early, rather than relying on individuals to speak up after harm has already occurred," she said.
But the scale of the findings demonstrated not enough was being done to prevent harm in the first place.
"The message for employers is clear: inclusive workplaces don't rely on policies alone," Dr D'Almada-Remedios said.
"They require proactive actions that build trust, create a workplace environment where it is safe to speak up, and address harmful behaviour early."
Released to coincide with Victoria's Midsumma festival and Sydney's upcoming Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the findings provide insights into the experiences of queer workers across the country.
"As organisations celebrate LGBTQI communities, this data highlights that workplaces cannot be complacent," the council's chief executive Catherine Hunter said.
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