Relational Implications of Gay and Lesbian Workplace Romances: Understanding Trust, Deception, and Credibility

an article by Sean M. Horan (DePaul University, Chicago, USA) and Rebecca M. Chory (West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA) published in Journal of Business Communication Volume 50 Number 2 (April 2013)

Abstract

This study examines the relational implications of same-sex workplace romances (WRs) and compares results with findings for heterosexual WRs.

Working adults (N = 147; M age = 30.87 years old) read a scenario describing a same-sex WR and completed measures of deception, trust, and credibility. Results indicate that employees trust gay and lesbian peers dating superiors less, are more likely to deceive them, and view them as less credible than gay and lesbian peers dating other peers.

Employees also perceive gay co-workers as more caring and of higher character than they perceive lesbian coworkers. Comparisons with prior research indicate that peers report less deception with gay and lesbian co-workers and higher perceptions of gay and lesbian co-workers’ caring and character compared with heterosexual co-workers.

Sex of the peer affected perceptions of gay and lesbian, but not heterosexual peers. There were no differences in the effect sizes for dating a superior versus a peer between gay and lesbian and heterosexual WRs.

---

Sexual Orientation and Occupational Attainment

an article by Koji Ueno, Abráham E. Peña-Talamantes and Teresa A. Roach (Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA) published in Work and Occupations Volume 40 Number 1 (February 2013)

Abstract

Research shows that sexual minorities and heterosexuals differ in the level of success in educational and earnings attainment, but differences in occupational attainment have been unclear.

To extend the literature, this article examines sexual orientation differences in young adulthood occupational status by analysing the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health Waves 1 to 4.

Drawing from the life course literature, a theoretical framework is developed to explain how sexual orientation shifts opportunities and constraints in the occupational attainment process. The analysis shows that the association between sexual orientation and occupational status depends on gender, the type of sexual experience used to measure sexual orientation, and the timing of first sexual experience.

Women who report their first same-sex attraction or sexual contact in young adulthood have lower occupational status than those without such experience, and men who report their first same-sex dating relationships in young adulthood tend to have higher occupational status than those without such relationships.

These findings extend the existing knowledge on sexual development and status attainment, which has mainly focused on heterosexual development.

---