LGBT workers are facing challenges in the form of workplace bullying. According to a recent survey, two in five LGBT workers (40 percent) report feeling bullied at work, a figure which is 11 percentage points higher than the national average of all workers combined. Fifty-six percent of bullied LGBT workers report being bullied repeatedly.

What does bullying in the workplace look like? The survey report, issued by CareerBuilder earlier this month, indicated that fifty-three percent of bullied LGBT workers say they were bullied by one person, and 13 percent say it happened in a group setting. Fourteen percent of bullied LGBT workers say they were bullied by someone younger, and 61 percent say they were bullied by someone older. Among the most common examples of bullying given by LGBT workers who were bullied at work were:

• Falsely accused of mistakes they didn't make (61 percent)
• Ignored - comments were dismissed or not acknowledged (50 percent)
• Used different standards/policies for them than other workers (49 percent)
• They were gossiped about (47 percent)
• Picked on for personal attributes (race, gender, appearance) (42 percent)
• Constantly criticized by boss or co-workers (40 percent)
• Someone didn't perform certain duties, which negatively impacted their work (40 percent)
• Purposely excluded from projects or meetings (31 percent)
• Belittling comments were made about their work during meetings (28 percent)

Seventy-two percent of workers who were bullied at work did not report it to HR. Of those LGBT workers who were bullied at work, 19 percent have suffered from health-related problems as a result of being bullied at work, and 15 percent have called in sick because of feeling bullied. Forty-one percent of LGBT workers who have been bullied at work have left a job because they have felt bullied.

To avoid these negative consequences, managers and HR professionals should educate all employees on company expectations and policies, monitor employee interactions in the workplace, and be responsive to employees who raise concerns or complaints. "Employers have a responsibility to create a safe working environment for all employees,” said Michael Erwin, director of corporate communications and social media at CareerBuilder. “They can minimize [bullying at work] by offering sensitivity training and enforcing anti-bullying policies across their organizations."