When you’re at work, do you feel like ‘yourself’? Maybe there’s absolutely no difference between the ‘real you’ – the person you are around your closest friends and relatives – and the version of yourself that appears in the workplace. But chances are, there’s some distance between the two.

This variance might be subtle: perhaps you’re quieter at work than you are at home, or maybe you feel more comfortable being assertive with colleagues than you do with friends. But it might also be huge. Many people keep fundamental parts of their lives and identities hidden from their employers and co-workers – from their sexuality to disabilities, mental illness and even pregnancies.

Of course, there are valid reasons why someone might want to keep parts of their identity quiet at work. Studies suggest that more than a third of LGBT staff in the UK hide their sexuality at work for fear of discrimination, while almost half of British workers with mental health issues don’t tell their employer due to concerns that it could block their career progress. Many people with ‘hidden’ disabilities – impairments that others can’t see – report experiencing dismissive attitudes towards their health problems at work, according to a report by the TUC, and recent research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission shows that maternity discrimination is still rife in the UK. Against this backdrop, it’s not hard to understand why many people choose not to disclose certain things at work.

Why you should be your authentic self in the workplace