Study: Anti-LGBT discrimination costs Florida employers $362 million annually

Discrimination against LGBT workers in Florida costs employers more than $362-million a year, according to a report released today by Equality Means Business, a coalition of major employers in the state.

The report, which includes interviews with several top executives from nationally recognized businesses based in Florida, links business leaders’ concerns over the state’s ability to compete with hard dollar losses in productivity and employee turnover.

Other key findings include: ​

• Business executives cite Florida’s reputation as hostile to diversity among their chief challenges in attracting and retaining talent.
• More than 60 percent of LGB employees, and more than 80 percent of transgender employees, in Florida have experienced discrimination in the workplace.
• Top executives recognize that the top talent among the Millennial generation values diversity and inclusion – making nondiscrimination protections a must-have.

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“We’ve long said that discrimination takes a toll on our economy, and we now know that price tag is more than $362-million a year. That’s millions of dollars lost because LGBT Floridians can still be subjected to discrimination and harassment in the workplace,” said Nadine Smith, co-founder and CEO of Equality Florida, which convened the Equality Means Business coalition.

“It is clearly in the state’s interests to provide equal protection for all employees against discrimination.” said Smith.

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