Title: Leveraging diversity through raising awareness: sexual orientation discrimination in the Thailand workforce: implications for human resource management

Authors: Chetsada Noknoi, Phayat Wutthirong

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Thaksin University, 140 Moo 4, Tambon Kaorupchang, Maung District, Songkhla, 90000 Thailand. ' The Concrete Products and Aggregate Co., Ltd. of Siam Cement Group, 1516 Pracharat 1 Road, Bangsue, Bangkok, 10800 Thailand

Abstract: A cornerstone of the homosexual rights movement, equality in the workplace has been a pivotal struggle for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered [LGBT] community. The objective of this article features the concern about sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace of Thailand. Most LGBT have emotional intelligence and special ability different from ordinary people. In Thailand, non-heterosexual behaviours are more disclosed now than in the past. They are slowly becoming more accepted by the Thai community. However, sexual orientation discrimination still persists in both public and private organisations and businesses depending on their environment and culture. It is important that these organisations and businesses show concern for the LGBT people in acknowledging sex discrimination and accepting sexual orientation diversity. They can prevent this kind of discrimination among employees by aligning human resource strategies in both short and long-terms of organisational strategy in order to make a sustainable competitive advantage.

Keywords: workplace diversity; sexual orientation; sexual discrimination; workplace homophobia; human resource management; HRM; Thailand; emotional intelligence; organisational strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2010.033586

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2010 Vol.10 No.3, pp.254 - 271

Published online: 06 Jun 2010 *

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