Workplace Discrimination

SUMAIYYAH ROSHIDI2015405632

AA700 1BF

Definition of DiscriminationDiscrimination occurs when one person or a

group of people are treated differently because of a particular trait or characteristics

The practice of unfairly treating a person differently or group of people differently from other people or groups of people (Merriam Webster Dictionary)

4 Types of Discrimination1. Direct discrimination 2. Indirect discrimination3. Harassment4. Victimization

Direct Discrimination Employer treats the employee less favourably

than he treats or would treat others.Because? –they possess a protected characteristic

Ex:-dismissing someone -deciding not to employ them-refusing them training-denying them a promotion

A and B apply for a job. Both are Malaysian, but A is Malay and B is Chinese. The employer decides to give the job to B because “ Malays can never speak English properly”

Indirect DiscriminationOccurs where an employer’s policies or work

practices are the same for everyone but place a particular employee or group of employees at a disadvantage

Eg: A company policy requiring all employees to read and write English fluently when this is not needed for all job within the company

-An employer’s requirement for a particular level of education before employing someone ( older people who do not have the level of education but have significant life experience and skills

HarassmentWhen an employee is exposed to offensive or

intimidating behaviorEg: -giving someone an undesirable nickname

-making inappropriate jokes

VictimizationWhen you are treated unfairly or put at a

disadvantage because you have tried or taken action against discrimination

You’re treated unfairly because you’ve supported someone else taking action.(for example: you act as a witness in someone else’s discrimination case.

Eg: you were ignored by your work colleagues or given a poor reference because you’ve made a complaint about discrimination.

Protected CharacteristicsRace

Gender

Age

Religion

Disability

RacismPoor treatment of or violence

against people because of their race

Or the belief that some races of people are better than others

Eg : not allowed to wear a headscarf

Chinese language proficiency matters more than English

Issue on racism

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/utusan-claims-malay-grads-face-discrimination-cites-unnamed-study

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/11/02/malay-grads-losing-out-in-job-race/

Gender discriminationUnfair treatment of a person based on his or her genderDirect-Treating someone (an applicant or employee)

unfavorably because of that person’s gender.Indirect- occur if employers/managers hold assumptions about

what sort of work women & men are capable, or not capable of doing

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/discrimination-keeps-most-malaysian-women-out-of-formal-job-market-says-rep

http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/People/2015/01/02/More-commitment-needed-to-end-discrimination-against-women/

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/03/21/eight-women-lose-gender-discrimination-suit/

http://poskod.my/cheat-sheets/8-things-know-gender-wage-gap/

Sex discrimination could include :Not hiring a woman because the boss thinks

she won’t fit into a traditionally male workplace

Offering women and men different rates of pay or benefits for the same job

Not considering women for a particular roleDividing up work tasks based on whether

staff are male or female.Some employers fired female employees as

soon as the employees become pregnant

Causes of Gender discriminationCertain occupations are a ‘man’s job’ or a

‘woman’s job’.Physical factor(women are physically weaker

than men, easily abused &discriminated against men)

Stereotype – Feminine & Masculine characteristics

Age DiscriminationWhen a person is treated less favorably than another

person in a similar situation because of their age.Stereotypes and assumptions about young people

and mature workers can have a big influence on decisions in the workplace.

Direct- older applicant is not considered for a job because it is assumed that they are not as up to date with technology as a younger person

Indirect- an employer requires an older person to meet a physical fitness test which more younger people are able to meet even though the fitness standard is not an inherent requirement of the job

Age discrimination in employment can include:Not providing training opportunities for

young or mature workers because ‘it’s not worth it’

Not employing mature workers it’s assumed that they will soon retire

Advertising for someone to join a ‘dynamic, young team’

not interviewing someone because they are too young or too old to ‘fit in’ with other staff

http://www.worklifecareers.com/age-discrimination-get-over-it/

Religious DiscriminationValuing or treating a person or group

differently because of what they do or do not believe.

Direct- refusing to allow you into a restaurant because you’re Muslim

Indirect- refusing to allow you into a restaurant if you’re wearing a hijab or turban

Religion discrimination may include:Advertising for job applicants of one religion

only Requiring you to dress in a certain way

(example: all women need to wear a short skirt)

Making you work at times that you cannot work because of your religion

Issues on Religion DiscriminationA Facebook user, who only wanted to be known as Aleen, said that it was not only in the retail industry does such discrimination exists.“I studied a media-related course and have been looking for a job related to what I studied for.“Unfortunately, I was rejected by many companies because I wear a hijab, which they said will not look good when you have to dress in corporate clothing,” she said, adding that she was even told by some companies that she might get a job if she was willing to get rid of the hijab.

Sources : http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/09/18/Discrimination-when-hiring-is-rife-say-job-seekers/

http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/pekerja-bank-tak-dibenarkan-solat-1.238126http://rakyatnews.my/index.php/headlines/isu-isu-semasa/item/126502-nafi-hak-pekerja-bank-

Disability DiscriminationDefinition : Treating individuals differently in

employment because of their disability, perceived disability, or association with an individual with a disability.

Negative pre-conceptions and misperceptions were formed about PWDs claiming that they were “lazy, dependent on others and a burden to society”

When Ann Khoo worked at her previous company, her former boss said he hired her out of pity due to a handicap. Her boss even told her that she had to work thrice as hard for people to believe in her. “Also, while others were invited to attend functions, I was warned not to attend it because they did not want guests to shy away.”

Sources :Tay, D. (2014, July 28). How one woman's battle with Tourette's

and discrimination turned her into an advocate for fairness in the workplace. Retrieved September 27, 2015.

https://www.techinasia.com/discrimination-asias-startups-woman-battle-tourettes-turned-advocate-fairness-workplace/

“Whenever that he cannot do, he will pass it over to me. When deadline is over and the job is not completed, I will get scolded for not doing the job well. Initially, I do not know how to go about doing job at all, but I am learning slowly.” ( Malay male, respondent with hard of hearing)

“My salary is a problem because what I receive is not the same as what normal employees receive even though we do the same work”. (Malay male, respondent with hearing loss)

Source : (Khoo. Workplace discrimination against Malaysians with disablities.pg1-16)

Effects of workplace discriminationHigh TurnoverLow MoraleEmployee Conflict) http://

woman.thenest.com/effects-discrimination-workplace-2514.html)

Decreased Employee ProductivityDisgruntled EmployeesFinancialPhysical effect on

Employees(http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/effects-discrimination-workplace-2727.html)

How to prevent?Documentation and Treating all employees the

sameManagement TrainingCompany policiesWhen hiring, stick to Job requirements(

http://www.justifacts.com/5-ways-to-reduce-workplace-discrimination/)

(http://woman.thenest.com/strategy-stop-discrimination-workplace-15606.html)