We hear a lot about the gender wage gap in the workplace. But what is it? And how can we fix it? Discrimination in the workplace is tough to overcome, but there are ways to do so.
We will discuss different types of biases and how they affect your employees and some tips on how you can combat them for increased productivity.
What does discrimination mean?
Discrimination means prejudging people as being inferior or superior based on their group association rather than individual qualities and capabilities. Many people don’t realize they are discriminatory because they assume everyone else thinks like them. But this isn’t true – we all come with our own set of beliefs based on our experiences and upbringing, which can lead to preconceived notions about certain groups. The most common discriminations in the workplace happens on a daily basis, and people don’t even realize it, which can be highly harmful to your business.
How does discrimination affect the workplace?
We’ve all heard the saying “the customer is always right,” but when employees believe this, it can lead to them treating customers differently based on their gender. For example, assertive or aggressive women have been found to be perceived as less likeable than men exhibiting those same behaviours. This can affect their career opportunities and advancement in a negative way if they aren’t given equal work compared to other male colleagues with similar qualifications.
Additionally, recent studies show that women who negotiate for higher pay could end up being passed over for promotions because people attribute them with having an attitude problem rather than recognizing that negotiating is part of their job role. In the end, everyone is judged based on their group association rather than as an individual, which can lead to negative consequences for your company’s culture and morale if not appropriately addressed.
Different types of discrimination
Homophobia
Homophobia is one of the most common discriminations in the workplace and can be quite harmful. This behavior refers to the discirimination against employees who are part of the LGBTQIA community and has caused significant disruptions in the past. However, businesses have now started to come together to not only recognize this community more but fight for respect as well as equality in the workplace and beyond. Companies have also started to educate their employees more by shedding a light on the bisexual flag as well as what they can do to help make progress for the LGBTQIA community.
Misogynism
Misogyny refers to the objectification and disfavor of women, which can be overt or more subtle. For example, women often receive less credit for their ideas and are ignored by managers during meetings because they assume another man will take care of it later on.
Racism
While this type of discrimination has been decreasing in recent years due to laws being passed making it illegal, racism still exists in many workplaces today – people may think twice before hiring a candidate from an ethnic minority group even if they have similar skills as other candidates who were white. It also happens with employees – co-workers might treat minorities poorly based on stereotypes about how certain races behave.
How to overcome discrimination in the workplace?
The best way to overcome discrimination in the workplace is by training employees about different types of discrimination and their negative consequences. Make sure HR managers are also aware of this so they can take action when it happens, which will lead to a more positive work culture and better results overall for your company.
