Minority Stress of Workers as Internal Customers: A Case Study in Turkey

LGBT+ workers are invisible in Turkish work life. This paper aims to investigate LGBT+ workers as internal customers and how their performance in the workplace is affected by minority stress. Since LGBT+ individuals face covert discrimination in the workplace, this might cause minority stress. Accor...

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Main Authors: Deniz Akgül, Vildan Güneş
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Athens Institute for Education and Research 2023-01-01
Series:Athens Journal of Business & Economics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.athensjournals.gr/business/2023-9-1-7-Akgul.pdf
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author Deniz Akgül
Vildan Güneş
author_facet Deniz Akgül
Vildan Güneş
author_sort Deniz Akgül
collection DOAJ
description LGBT+ workers are invisible in Turkish work life. This paper aims to investigate LGBT+ workers as internal customers and how their performance in the workplace is affected by minority stress. Since LGBT+ individuals face covert discrimination in the workplace, this might cause minority stress. According to this argument, this study will investigate whether minority stress causes performance loss in the workplace and whether this affects LGBT+ people's performance as internal customers. Grounded theory approach has been used in this research. To conduct the qualitative study, 36 phone interviews were conducted. Participants were recruited with the snowball sampling method. The interview form was prepared according to the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index questionnaire and included a video that shows a job interview. Based on the results, minority stress causes performance loss in the workplace. The findings highlight that LGBT+ individuals generally prefer not to be out at their workplaces because of internalized homophobia, perceived stigma, and prejudiced events concerning their sexual identity and gender expression. Furthermore, nondiscrimination is not legally enshrined in Turkey. LGBT+ individuals face covert discrimination in the workplace, which affects their performance as internal customers. Only a few Non-Governmental Organizations have reported on LGBT+ individuals’ working situation. This research paper comprehensively examines their work lives and attitudes towards companies
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spelling doaj.art-bbf5693062184d8a9e98b213a385f0d02023-01-09T10:53:42ZengAthens Institute for Education and ResearchAthens Journal of Business & Economics2241-794X2023-01-019110913010.30958/ajbe.9-1-7Minority Stress of Workers as Internal Customers: A Case Study in Turkey Deniz Akgül0Vildan Güneş1Assistant Professor, Department of Business Administrations, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, TurkeyResearch Assistant, Department of Business Administrations, Kirsehir Ahi Evran University, TurkeyLGBT+ workers are invisible in Turkish work life. This paper aims to investigate LGBT+ workers as internal customers and how their performance in the workplace is affected by minority stress. Since LGBT+ individuals face covert discrimination in the workplace, this might cause minority stress. According to this argument, this study will investigate whether minority stress causes performance loss in the workplace and whether this affects LGBT+ people's performance as internal customers. Grounded theory approach has been used in this research. To conduct the qualitative study, 36 phone interviews were conducted. Participants were recruited with the snowball sampling method. The interview form was prepared according to the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index questionnaire and included a video that shows a job interview. Based on the results, minority stress causes performance loss in the workplace. The findings highlight that LGBT+ individuals generally prefer not to be out at their workplaces because of internalized homophobia, perceived stigma, and prejudiced events concerning their sexual identity and gender expression. Furthermore, nondiscrimination is not legally enshrined in Turkey. LGBT+ individuals face covert discrimination in the workplace, which affects their performance as internal customers. Only a few Non-Governmental Organizations have reported on LGBT+ individuals’ working situation. This research paper comprehensively examines their work lives and attitudes towards companieshttps://www.athensjournals.gr/business/2023-9-1-7-Akgul.pdflgbt+internal customerminority stressgenderworkplace
spellingShingle Deniz Akgül
Vildan Güneş
Minority Stress of Workers as Internal Customers: A Case Study in Turkey
Athens Journal of Business & Economics
lgbt+
internal customer
minority stress
gender
workplace
title Minority Stress of Workers as Internal Customers: A Case Study in Turkey
title_full Minority Stress of Workers as Internal Customers: A Case Study in Turkey
title_fullStr Minority Stress of Workers as Internal Customers: A Case Study in Turkey
title_full_unstemmed Minority Stress of Workers as Internal Customers: A Case Study in Turkey
title_short Minority Stress of Workers as Internal Customers: A Case Study in Turkey
title_sort minority stress of workers as internal customers a case study in turkey
topic lgbt+
internal customer
minority stress
gender
workplace
url https://www.athensjournals.gr/business/2023-9-1-7-Akgul.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT denizakgul minoritystressofworkersasinternalcustomersacasestudyinturkey
AT vildangunes minoritystressofworkersasinternalcustomersacasestudyinturkey