Employees spend most of their day at their workplace compared to the comfort of their home. Sadly, discrimination in the workplace can happen anywhere in today’s part of reality. The discrimination they face at work seems more common than getting a raise or bonus. What’s even sad is that most employers don’t seem to be aware of discrimination that happens in their organization.
What Is Discrimination In the Workplace?
It refers to the unfair treatment towards a selected individual or a specific group of candidates. Workplace discrimination could happen to you due to your working style, physical appearance, gender, ethnicity, and even your marital status. Sometimes, it happens without any reason, which is extremely awful.
What can you, as an employer, do to curb discrimination at work?
1. Develop A Written Policy
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As an employer, you can develop and enact your company’s anti-discrimination written policy occasionally. You have to make sure your company has zero tolerance towards any form of discrimination and harassment. You have to highlight the importance of an employee’s skills, knowledge, and working abilities as their success factors in your organization.
2. Educate Employees
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The first step is to make sure you are well-educated on this topic. You can conduct anti-discriminatory training programs for your employees. Make sure you have separate programs for supervisors and managers. They can be the first in line to defend employees from discrimination. You should ensure the programs create an awareness regarding discrimination and most importantly, be transparent about your anti-discrimination company policy.
3. Conduct Team-Building Activities
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You should conduct activities that build bonds among your employees. Through this, they can interact and have a better understanding. You can organize activities that include diversity and inclusion. For example, having a potluck that encourages everyone to bring their traditional dishes.
4. Handle Complains Confidentially
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If any of your employees report to you regarding discrimination that they are facing, keep them confidential. Take proper action against those who discriminate and do not reveal the name of the employee who complained. This builds trust among you and the rest of your employees, where they will feel braver to redirect any discrimination case to you.
5. Reduce Biasness
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Remember, to avoid workplace discrimination, you have to be less biased in the first place. Don’t go preaching around but end up doing the same. Treat all of your employees the same. This will set a great example for them, and workplace discrimination could be avoided altogether!
Workplace discrimination may happen even if you try to avoid it because every individual has a different mindset. Taking the right actions to curb makes your organization well-balanced and healthy. It is not good to discriminate against someone based on factors you cannot control. Say a big NO to discrimination!
