An exploration of bi+ people and work.

Abstract

With approximately 1 million people in the Netherlands, bi+ people constitute the largest group under the lgbtqi+ umbrella.1 Bi+ is the overarching term for all individuals with a sexual orientation directed towards more than one gender. Research indicates that they experience less favorable outcomes in various aspects of work compared to heterosexual, lesbian, and gay people (Van Beusekom & Kuyper, 2018). However, a deeper understanding of these experiences and how these unfavorable differences can be explained is lacking. This report is the result of an exploration conducted by Leiden University and Bi+ Nederland at the request of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. The aim of this exploration is to gain more insight into the experiences of bi+ individuals at the workplace and to identify promising approaches to improve the situation of bi+ individuals at work. The exploration consists of two parts. The first part involves a literature review on what is already known from research about bi+ individuals at work, and what promising approaches exist to improve the situation of bi+ individuals at work. In addition to the Netherlands, the focus was on Western and Northern Europe and Anglo-Saxon countries, as research on this topic has been conducted in these areas and publications are generally in English. The second part is based on thirty interviews with bi+ employees in paid employment in the Netherlands and five interviews with national and international experts in the field of bi+ inclusion in the labor market. The interviews provided concrete examples of how a particular phenomenon or process was experienced in practice by bi+ individuals, thereby providing more detailed insight. The literature review has been conducted by Bi+ Nederland with contributions from Leiden University. The interview study was executed by Leiden University. An external advisory group provided feedback on the approach and draft reports, consisting of Irene Hemelaar (FNV / Largest DutchTrade Union), Fayaaz Joemmanbaks (Colored Qollective), Lis Dekkers (Transgender Network), Wies Loeffen (Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment), Laura Baams (University of Groningen) and Peter Mekers (Network Rainbow FNV/ Largest DutchTrade Union). We first provide a brief explanation of what bi+ is and what is characteristic of it. Then we present the conclusions from the literature review and interviews, followed by recommendations for various stakeholders.