Glossary > Employment Law > Employment Rights > Harassment And Discrimination

Systemic Discrimination

Systemic discrimination in the context of employment law refers to discrimination practices or policies within an organization that have a widespread, ingrained, and adverse impact on a particular group of employees based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or disability. It goes beyond individual acts of discrimination and indicates a pattern of biased behavior that permeates the workplace culture.

Example #1

For example, a company consistently promotes only male employees to senior management positions while equally or even more qualified female employees are repeatedly passed over. This pattern of gender-based discrimination demonstrates systemic discrimination within the organization.

Example #2

Another example could be a company setting deliberately high physical fitness standards for hiring, which disproportionately excludes individuals with certain disabilities, leading to systemic discrimination against disabled persons.

Misuse

An example of misuse of systemic discrimination would be a retail chain systematically assigning older employees schedules that require heavy lifting and long hours without providing reasonable accommodations for their age-related limitations. It's crucial to protect against systemic discrimination to ensure fairness, equal opportunities, and a respectful work environment for all employees.

Benefits

By addressing and eradicating systemic discrimination, organizations can create a more inclusive, diverse, and productive work environment. For instance, when a company implements fair promotion practices based purely on merit and skill, without bias, it can attract and retain a more diverse workforce, leading to increased innovation and employee satisfaction.

Conclusion

Systemic discrimination undermines the principles of fairness and equality in the workplace. It is imperative to recognize, address, and eliminate systemic discrimination to ensure that all employees have equal opportunities for growth, advancement, and fair treatment. By promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity, organizations can foster a more harmonious and successful work environment.

Last Modified: 4/30/2024