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Sustainable Workplace: LGBTQ+ Policies in the Thai Business Sector
College of Management, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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Received: 2 July 2025 Accepted: 15 January 2026 Published: 2 February 2026
Abstract
This study investigates how Thai businesses integrate gender inclusion into their sustainability and corporate governance agendas, with a specific focus on human rights and environmental, social, and governance frameworks. Drawing on qualitative content analysis of public disclosures from 10 leading firms listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the research explores how corporate actors articulate, implement, and monitor gender diversity policies. The findings indicate that while most companies focus on non-discrimination and align with international standards, such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Standards of Conduct, implementation remains largely procedural. Only a limited number of Thai firms explicitly recognize employees from all gender identities as a distinct group or adopt targeted measures addressing their needs and vulnerabilities. The paper argues that advancing sustainable and inclusive workplaces requires businesses to move beyond symbolic compliance and embed gender issues within corporate strategy, leadership development, and stakeholder engagement. To achieve this, companies should strengthen human rights due diligence, enhance transparency in reporting, and establish partnerships with civil society to foster inclusive learning environments.
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Keywords
gender diversity; sustainable workplace; equality; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I); Thailand; Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5)
Copyright © 2026
Pimpa. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use and distribution provided that the original work is properly cited.
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Cite this Article
Pimpa, N. (2026). Sustainable Workplace: LGBTQ+ Policies in the Thai Business Sector. Highlights of Sustainability, 5(1), 84–103. https://doi.org/10.54175/hsustain5010007
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