Workplace discrimination is a common issue that impacts hundreds of thousands of people across the country. It can disrupt workflow and make employees feel uncomfortable at work.
Understanding workplace discrimination and its implications is important for every employer and employee. You should be able to recognise discrimination and know how to take the appropriate actions to raise your concerns.
Below, we have covered workplace discrimination in more detail and why it’s important to understand this issue as an employer or employee. You can learn more about workplace discrimination by looking at HKM.com’s information on the matter.
What is Workplace Discrimination?
Workplace discrimination is the unfair treatment of a job seeker or employee based on their protected characteristics. These characteristics include age, race, sex, gender orientation, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, and pregnancy.
There are various forms of discrimination within the workplace, and they include:
- Direct discrimination – this type of discrimination is where a person is directly treated unfairly because of their protected characteristics, such as not being given an interview for a job due to their age
- Indirect discrimination – indirect forms of workplace discrimination occur on a wider level, such as an employee implementing a policy that only impacts those of a certain race or religion.
- Harassment – this form of discrimination involves making an individual feel scared or intimidated in the workplace, such as through ongoing sexual advancements or bullying.
- Failure to accommodate needs – when a person’s unique needs are not met by an employer, such as a person with disabilities needing special equipment or a religious individual needing work breaks to pray at specific times, it is classed as a form of workplace discrimination.
Why is Understanding Workplace Discrimination Important?
Knowing the ins and outs of each type of workplace discrimination is important for a number of reasons, whether you’re an employer or employee.
Understanding workplace discrimination enables you to comply with local and national laws. You can understand your unique requirements as an employer or employee regarding the fair treatment of your staff and colleagues.
Knowing more about the laws surrounding workplace discrimination allows you to implement the necessary policies and workplace practices to keep your staff safe and comfortable at work. Comfortable and content employees are more likely to be productive and remain loyal to their employers, ensuring business success.
A workplace that is free of all forms of discrimination creates a positive environment that makes everybody feel welcome, regardless of their background. When employees feel respected and valued, they will feel motivated to work hard and contribute positively to the workplace.
Learning how to eliminate discrimination within the workplace as an employer or employee enables you to contribute positively to workplace culture and promote collaboration within your team. It will also enable you to maximize productivity, engagement, and efficiency, which can improve enjoyment within the workplace and promote a welcoming, positive business reputation.
