Opportunities and challenges facing LGBTQ plus people in employment in rural England post-pandemic: a thematic analysis

PurposeThe following study aimed to better understand rural dwelling LGBTQ+ adults' experiences of the challenges and opportunities facing their working lives in England.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative, focus group design was utilized, using online recruitment and an online, one-off focus group. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.FindingsThree themes were identified: stressors facing LGBTQ+ people in the workplace; opportunities in employment; and ideas to improve the workplace for LGBTQ+ people. Participants spoke to the ways in which both rural living and the pandemic had impacted their working lives, including elevated fears of being discriminated against; experiencing microaggressions in the workplace which they felt were partly elevated by a lack of visibility and affirmative policies; and a sense that specific workplaces inhabited by LGBTQ+ people had been decimated by the pandemic. Conversely, participants spoke of opportunities for affirmation of their gender and/or sexual orientation identities, feeling a sense of pride and connection with their communities through work.Originality/valueThis is the first study to the authors' knowledge that specifically explores rural dwelling LGBTQ+ adults' experiences of the workplace post-pandemic. It builds on previous empirical research by highlighting qualitative experiences of challenges and opportunity, which can inform organizations and policymakers' efforts to promote inclusivity.