Workplace practices and employee engagement: the moderating role of sexual identity

Employee engagement is an important issue for organizations. When employees are engaged, they can be more efficient and effective at their jobs, and this, in turn, creates the potential for beneficial social context and competitive advantage. Employees are more engaged when their workplace allows them to present more of their selves to their jobs. As the landscape of the United States workforce evolves, historically underrepresented minority groups now occupy significant sectors, requiring organizations to make important decisions about diversity practices. This study utilizes a diversity climate survey (n =306) to consider the moderating effect of sexual orientation on the relationship between workplace practices and employee engagement. Results have potential theoretical and practical implications for the positioning of diversity and inclusion practice resources. While diversity practices increased employee engagement for LGBT employees, inclusion practices increased employee engagement for straight employees.