DiversityQ supports board members setting and enacting their D&I strategy, HR directors managing their departments to take D&I best practice and implement it in real-life workplace situations
More thana third of UK employees (37%) have felt discriminated against in the workplace, according to a study of 1,300 working adults by ADP.
The research reveals that age is the most common reason for discrimination, cited by one in 10 employees (12%), while 8% feel they’ve been discriminated against due to their gender – rising to 11% amongst women.
UK employers are obliged by law to ensure equal treatment of workers and combat any kind of discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The findings suggest that despite these rules, many prejudices still exist and are affecting behaviours and decisions – whether explicitly or implicitly – within the workplace.
Discrimination is more prevalent in some sectors than others, according to the study, with workers in IT and telecoms most likely to have felt discriminated against (53%), along with those in financial services (52%) and arts and culture (50%). In contrast, less than a quarter of those in the travel and transport industry have felt this way, (23%) alongside just 27% in manufacturing.
The study also suggests that standards and perceptions of behaviour have shifted across the generations, with those in so-called ‘Generation Snowflake’ more sensitive to unfair treatment than their more mature colleagues. According to the findings, half (50%) of those under 35 say they have felt discriminated against, compared to just a quarter (26%) of those over the age of 45. The contrast is visible across both age (15% vs 14%), gender (11% vs 5%) and other types of discrimination.
“Workplace discrimination has hit the headlines in the last 12 months, with the #MeToo movement and BBC pay row shining a spotlight on the inequality that still exists within many professions,” commented Jeff Phipps, Managing Director at ADP UK. “Our findings show that the problem is by no means limited to the entertainment and media industries, suggesting that more needs to be done across all sectors to ensure these types of prejudices are rooted out of the system.”
In an effort to reduce pay-based gender discrimination in the workplace, the Government introduced gender pay gap reporting in April 2017, for any organization employing over 250 staff. However, the findings suggest this has received a mixed response, with two thirds of workers (66%) saying that they don’t feel there is a need for gender pay gap reporting, compared to just 14% who believe that it is necessary – even though official figures show that women earn on average 9% less than men across the UK.
Phipps continues: “Equal pay for equal work is one of the founding principles of the European Union, so it’s shocking that this inequality still exists between men and women. While many employees may believe gender pay gap reporting isn’t necessary in their organisation, the facts suggest otherwise. Regular reporting on pay levels is one strategy for ensuring all employers face up to any ingrained biases that may exist within the workplace, and tackle these head-on. I would encourage organisations to look at top-down diversity bias training. When leaders become aware of unconscious bias they are often shocked, and in turn, motivated to address it.”
The Women in IT Awards Series is the technology world’s most prominent and influential diversity program. On 28 March 2019, the awards will come to New York for the second time, taking place at the Cipriani on 42nd St. Nominations are now open for these prestigious awards. Click here to nominate yourself, a colleague or peer!
Three in ten UK employees discriminated against at work
Three in ten UK employees discriminated against at work
Newsletter
DiversityQ supports board members setting and enacting their D&I strategy, HR directors managing their departments to take D&I best practice and implement it in real-life workplace situations
Sign up nowMore than a third of UK employees (37%) have felt discriminated against in the workplace, according to a study of 1,300 working adults by ADP.
The research reveals that age is the most common reason for discrimination, cited by one in 10 employees (12%), while 8% feel they’ve been discriminated against due to their gender – rising to 11% amongst women.
UK employers are obliged by law to ensure equal treatment of workers and combat any kind of discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The findings suggest that despite these rules, many prejudices still exist and are affecting behaviours and decisions – whether explicitly or implicitly – within the workplace.
Discrimination is more prevalent in some sectors than others, according to the study, with workers in IT and telecoms most likely to have felt discriminated against (53%), along with those in financial services (52%) and arts and culture (50%). In contrast, less than a quarter of those in the travel and transport industry have felt this way, (23%) alongside just 27% in manufacturing.
>See also: Abilities first – how to avoid workplace discrimination
The study also suggests that standards and perceptions of behaviour have shifted across the generations, with those in so-called ‘Generation Snowflake’ more sensitive to unfair treatment than their more mature colleagues. According to the findings, half (50%) of those under 35 say they have felt discriminated against, compared to just a quarter (26%) of those over the age of 45. The contrast is visible across both age (15% vs 14%), gender (11% vs 5%) and other types of discrimination.
“Workplace discrimination has hit the headlines in the last 12 months, with the #MeToo movement and BBC pay row shining a spotlight on the inequality that still exists within many professions,” commented Jeff Phipps, Managing Director at ADP UK. “Our findings show that the problem is by no means limited to the entertainment and media industries, suggesting that more needs to be done across all sectors to ensure these types of prejudices are rooted out of the system.”
>See also: Age discrimination in the workplace is slowly becoming passe
In an effort to reduce pay-based gender discrimination in the workplace, the Government introduced gender pay gap reporting in April 2017, for any organization employing over 250 staff. However, the findings suggest this has received a mixed response, with two thirds of workers (66%) saying that they don’t feel there is a need for gender pay gap reporting, compared to just 14% who believe that it is necessary – even though official figures show that women earn on average 9% less than men across the UK.
Phipps continues: “Equal pay for equal work is one of the founding principles of the European Union, so it’s shocking that this inequality still exists between men and women. While many employees may believe gender pay gap reporting isn’t necessary in their organisation, the facts suggest otherwise. Regular reporting on pay levels is one strategy for ensuring all employers face up to any ingrained biases that may exist within the workplace, and tackle these head-on. I would encourage organisations to look at top-down diversity bias training. When leaders become aware of unconscious bias they are often shocked, and in turn, motivated to address it.”
See also: Employers can stop class discrimination – but first they have to define it
The Women in IT Awards Series is the technology world’s most prominent and influential diversity program. On 28 March 2019, the awards will come to New York for the second time, taking place at the Cipriani on 42nd St. Nominations are now open for these prestigious awards. Click here to nominate yourself, a colleague or peer!
Latest
50/50 Women on Boards recognises Horace Mann for board gender diversity
Women and ethnic minorities face barriers returning to STEM careers
How to promote workplace wellbeing and good mental health
Related
How to promote workplace wellbeing and good mental health
The workforce has been through a lot these past two years, here are ten tips to improve employee mental health
Microlearning: Why ‘working small’ is often the key to ‘thinking big’
Stuart Affleck at Brook Graham explains the benefits that microlearning can bring to D&I training programmes
Women entrepreneurs show the meaning of role models and mentorship at FFE event
The occasion saw successful women entrepreneurs share their stories of motivation and resilience with young women looking to take the same path
How empowering young women can solve the STEM shortage
The talent shortage in STEM is at crisis level, is plugging the gender gap in the sector the solution?