A recent survey commissioned by Michael Page reveals that 30% of UK workers report they’ve faced discrimination in the workplace, yet a staggering 64% of them chose not to report it.
Reporting discrimination in workplace
Jackie Handy, an expert in inclusive leadership, points out that many employees fear repercussions if they report discrimination and will often opt to tolerate unfair and discriminatory treatment to safeguard their job security and workplace relationships.
Prevalence of age discrimination
Age discrimination emerged as the most common form of discrimination reported by respondents (47%), followed by gender (37%) and race (30%) discrimination. Individuals over 50 and those in their 30s reported the highest levels of age-related discrimination.
The role of HR
Emma Obanye, CEO of OneTech, emphasises the role of HR teams in fostering a safe reporting environment. HR should establish transparent reporting channels, ensure confidentiality, and protect employees from retaliation.
Moreover, HR professionals need to set an example by holding perpetrators of discrimination accountable for their actions in order to foster a workplace culture of fairness and empathy.