Is Gender Discrimination an Issue in Our Office?

Despite the establishment of discrimination laws and Equal Opportunity initiatives, gender discrimination is still a relatively common occurrence in workplaces across the country.

It does not only affect the people who are discriminated; it can also jeopardize the success of a company.

If you want your company to make unhindered progress and realize its true potential, it is essential that you try to identify and eliminate gender discrimination in your workplace.

Possible Effects of Gender Discrimination on Your Business

Employees who feel that they are discriminated may experience morale problems and lose their ability to perform their duties competently, which can result in lower productivity.

Additionally, there may be tension between the discriminated employees and those who are being treated fairly, making it difficult for them to work together as a team. Tension and conflict can create a hostile work environment and affect your employees' moods and motivation levels.

Since a company that does not condone discriminatory practices is often seen as a socially responsible organization, having gender discrimination issues in your workplace can jeopardize your company's reputation and make your customers lose faith in you.

Also, some acts of gender discrimination can lead to costly lawsuits.

How to Identify Gender Discrimination in Your Company

While some acts of gender discrimination are blatant, others can be very subtle.

If you want to know for sure whether or not gender discrimination exists in your company, try looking for these signs:

• All or almost all your employees are of the same gender.

• Wage disparity between male and female employees.

• Lack of recognition for the efforts of discriminated employees.

• Discriminated employees miss out on career advancement opportunities, despite good performance and long service.

• Discriminated employees are frequently left out of important projects and social events.

• Discriminated employees are noticeably more stressed and take leave more often.

Dealing With Gender Discrimination in the Workplace

Step 1

Develop a gender discrimination policy and manual with a business lawyer who has extensive knowledge in discrimination laws. Make sure the manual is easily comprehensible and complies with all federal and state discrimination laws.

Step 2

Explain the gender discrimination policy and manual to all your managers and leaders, and make them sign a form to acknowledge that they have read and understood the policy and manual.

Step 3

Make it compulsory for all your employees to read the manual and attend a discrimination training session. Then, ask them to sign a form to acknowledge that they have done so.

Step 4

Encourage equality in the workplace by making departments and workgroups more gender-diverse.

Step 5

Devise a way for employees to report acts of gender discrimination.

Step 6

Let your managers know that their subordinates have to provide an explanation if they are mentioned in a discrimination complaint.

Step 7

Decide what disciplinary actions to take if you find that your employees have committed a discriminatory act. 

Gender discrimination can hurt your business in many ways. As such, it is important that you try to eliminate it as soon as possible.