Combat Workplace Discrimination

• Published date: 25 November 2020
• Subject Matter: Employment and HR, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Discrimination, Disability & Sexual Harassment, Whistleblowing, Employment and Workforce Wellbeing
• Law Firm: Safecall
• Author: &nbsp Safecall

Preventing Workplace Discrimination

What do we mean by Discrimination?

Discussions around discrimination can be considered one of the defining conversations of our time.

It is important that we remember that fair discrimination is a useful and necessary part of society. We discriminate every time we choose one thing over another. For example where one job is available within an organisation and there are multiple candidates, one candidate must be chosen over the others. So long as this choice is made fairly, based on merit, the other candidates should not feel aggrieved. Discrimination becomes problematic when it is unfair.

Unfair discrimination occurs when a judgement is made or action taken towards somebody based on an irrelevant characteristic. Often characteristics are transposed from one individual to another based on an irrelevant commonality, such as age, gender, race or religion.

Why do people Discriminate?

On face value discrimination can appear to be a straightforward topic. It is easy to forget how far cultures and attitudes have shifted in recent history. There remains no real consensus as to why humans have historically discriminated against one another. People can also be unaware of their biases and it can be extremely difficult to identify discriminatory behaviour.

Discrimination is arguably deep rooted in many societies, for example if an education system is discriminatory the impact may be felt for generations thereafter. What is abundantly clear is that discriminatory behaviour should not be, and is no longer, tolerated by modern society.

It is increasingly clear that diversity of thought dramatically improves decision making and outcomes. It is in all of our interests to identify and challenge discrimination to drive more equitable and productive organisations and societies.

Why is fighting Workplace Discrimination important?

Unfair discrimination is unethical and in many cases illegal. In modern meritocratic society individuals should be judged by their actions, experience, ability and potential.

Victims and witnesses of unfair discrimination often become disengaged and potentially seek employment elsewhere. This results in a monoculture with little creativity and poor long term prospects.

There are a whole raft of positive benefits to having a diverse workforce explored in more detail here [link to equality and diversity].

How do people discriminate?

It is possible to discriminate against people by any characteristic. Common themes by...