Business leaders warn of worsening conditions for LGBTQ+ employees

Concerns over the future of LGBTQ+ rights in Czech workplaces are growing, according to business leaders and activists who gathered this week at the Pride Business Forum in Prague. They warned that growing conservatism in Western nations, particularly the United States, may soon influence European workplace policies.

Speaking at the annual conference on Friday, attendees expressed worry that backlash against diversity initiatives—already visible in parts of the U.S. corporate sector—could spread to Czechia and other parts of Europe. Activists called for new strategies and protections to safeguard LGBTQ+ rights in professional environments.

One of the loudest warnings came from Czeslaw Walek, chair of the Pride Business Forum and a longtime LGBTQ+ rights advocate, who said recent developments abroad are cause for concern. Citing trends in U.S. corporate policies that began during the Trump administration, Walek stressed that European companies cannot assume immunity.

“Business does demand diversity, but then a guy gets elected who pushes a conservative agenda and it starts all over again,” Walek said. “In the US, you see what is happening. We can’t think that the Czech Republic will be spared. This movement will arrive here too.”

Walek emphasized that LGBTQ+ inclusion is not about ideology but about real people seeking dignity and equality in the workplace. He urged companies to begin preparing for an increasingly challenging environment by adopting internal guidelines and advocating for stronger protections at the European level.

The sentiment was echoed by other speakers, including Pavlína Kalousová of Asahi Europe & International. She noted that some U.S. firms have started to retreat from diversity initiatives in the face of political pressure. “Many companies in the US want to kiss the ring. We are in Europe. It should stand up and defend its values,” she said.

While Czech society may appear less affected by these developments for now, several speakers pointed to research showing a disconnect between perception and lived experience.

According to economist Marie-Anne Valfort from the OECD, Czech citizens are among the least likely in the EU to recognize discrimination against LGBTQ+ people—despite statistics indicating that LGBTQ+ Czechs face some of the highest levels of harassment in the union.

Valfort referenced the 2023 Eurobarometer and a Fundamental Rights Agency survey, highlighting the gap between social awareness and actual discrimination. “The issue of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people seems to be overlooked in the Czech Republic,” she warned.

Tereza Kadlecová, executive director of the Pride Business Forum, added that younger generations are increasingly attuned to workplace equality and demand respectful environments. “They want dignity. We are not done yet. We don’t have full equality. Discrimination is real. Stereotypes poison our daily lives,” she said.

Kadlecová stressed the importance of having allies in business and institutional leadership to maintain pressure for equitable treatment. According to her, hundreds of Czech and international companies and organizations are now part of Pride Business Forum, signaling a broad coalition willing to uphold inclusive practices.

Representing the European Commission in Czechia, Monika Ladmanová offered a cautiously optimistic perspective, highlighting the EU’s potential to act as a stabilizing force amid rising waves of conservatism.

“It is essential to respect the basic values and rules,” Ladmanová stated. “We don’t know what will happen, but we are the biggest market. We will survive.”