Part 5 – Job SatisfactionPart 5 – Job Satisfaction

Chapter 20Chapter 20Diversity and Rights Diversity and Rights

in the Workplacein the Workplace

Chapter ObjectivesChapter Objectives RelateRelate current population trends to their current population trends to their

effect on workplace diversity.effect on workplace diversity. ListList the benefits of diversity to an employer. the benefits of diversity to an employer. DescribeDescribe ways that employers and ways that employers and

employees can promote workplace diversity.employees can promote workplace diversity. ProvideProvide examples of employment examples of employment

discrimination forbidden by law.discrimination forbidden by law. ExplainExplain how to take action against any how to take action against any

sexual harassment or discrimination directed sexual harassment or discrimination directed at you in the workplace. at you in the workplace.

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

It is the responsibility of both employers It is the responsibility of both employers and employees to promote diversity in and employees to promote diversity in the workplace.the workplace.

Several federal laws protect people Several federal laws protect people from discrimination and sexual from discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace.harassment in the workplace.

There are steps individuals can take to There are steps individuals can take to discourage or end discrimination or discourage or end discrimination or harassment behavior. harassment behavior.

Diversity Trends in the Diversity Trends in the United StatesUnited States

Factors that cause Factors that cause population differences population differences include:include: Cultural heritage.Cultural heritage. Language.Language. Religion.Religion. Gender.Gender. Age.Age. Disability.Disability.

Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage Cultural heritage is one of the greatest Cultural heritage is one of the greatest

factors contributing to U.S. diversity.factors contributing to U.S. diversity. Ethnic group:Ethnic group: A group of people with A group of people with

common racial and/or cultural common racial and/or cultural characteristics.characteristics.

The majority of Americans are of European The majority of Americans are of European descent, however African-, Asian-, and descent, however African-, Asian-, and Hispanic-American populations are Hispanic-American populations are growing rapidly.growing rapidly.

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Cultural HeritageCultural Heritage

Assimilation:Assimilation: Blending people into society by Blending people into society by helping, and sometimes forcing, them to helping, and sometimes forcing, them to become more like the majority.become more like the majority.

In today’s society, the focus is on allowing In today’s society, the focus is on allowing people to preserve and express their heritage.people to preserve and express their heritage.

LanguageLanguage More first-generation immigrant workers More first-generation immigrant workers

are entering the workplace with little are entering the workplace with little knowledge of the English language.knowledge of the English language.

This often results in communication This often results in communication problems.problems.

In this ongoing debate, some people feel In this ongoing debate, some people feel the employer should have the right to the employer should have the right to demand competency in English while demand competency in English while others think that language should be others think that language should be preserved.preserved.

ReligionReligion Workplace problems Workplace problems

arise when off-time is arise when off-time is given for the observance given for the observance of practices of one of practices of one religion but not others.religion but not others.

Increases in religious Increases in religious diversity are caused by:diversity are caused by: Immigrants introducing Immigrants introducing

new styles of religious new styles of religious practices.practices.

Traditional religions Traditional religions splitting into factions.splitting into factions.

GenderGender A huge change in the workplace happened A huge change in the workplace happened

when millions of women got jobs outside when millions of women got jobs outside the home.the home.

Reasons more women are working:Reasons more women are working: To earn income needed by the household.To earn income needed by the household. To have the economic freedom that extra To have the economic freedom that extra

income brings.income brings. For the challenge of pursuing a career.For the challenge of pursuing a career.

AgeAge The number of The number of

older workers is older workers is increasing rapidly.increasing rapidly.

Employers look for Employers look for their keen insight, their keen insight, experience, and experience, and dependable work dependable work habits.habits.

Older workers are Older workers are finding a need to finding a need to obtain updated obtain updated skills.skills.

DisabilityDisability Disability includes both Disability includes both

physical and mental physical and mental impairments.impairments.

Being disabled does Being disabled does not mean a person not mean a person cannot be a valuable cannot be a valuable employee.employee.

Federal law and Federal law and changing attitudes changing attitudes have increased the have increased the visibility of workers visibility of workers with disabilities in the with disabilities in the workplace.workplace.

The Benefits of Diversity The Benefits of Diversity in the Workplacein the Workplace

Workplace diversity:Workplace diversity: Respecting the Respecting the contributions of coworkers who are unlike you.contributions of coworkers who are unlike you.

Positive results of employees valuing differences:Positive results of employees valuing differences: Fewer lawsuits.Fewer lawsuits. High morale.High morale. Increased creativity.Increased creativity. Increased productivity.Increased productivity. Quality workers attracted to the organization.Quality workers attracted to the organization. Improved decision-making process.Improved decision-making process. Improved decision-making speed.Improved decision-making speed. More customers reached.More customers reached. Goodwill formed with businesses and government Goodwill formed with businesses and government

groups.groups.

Promoting Diversity in the Promoting Diversity in the WorkplaceWorkplace

U.S. organizations wanting to sell in a global U.S. organizations wanting to sell in a global environment need to manage workplace diversity.environment need to manage workplace diversity.

Policies emphasizing diversity can help companies Policies emphasizing diversity can help companies serve customers better anywhere.serve customers better anywhere.

Diversity is critical to remain competitive in Diversity is critical to remain competitive in worldwide markets.worldwide markets.

What Employers Are Doing What Employers Are Doing Many companies are implementing Many companies are implementing

diversity training programs.diversity training programs. The information that is taught in these The information that is taught in these

programs was developed through trial and programs was developed through trial and error.error.

Diversity training focuses on Diversity training focuses on understanding and accepting people’s understanding and accepting people’s differences and viewing them as positive differences and viewing them as positive assets. assets.

What Employees Can DoWhat Employees Can Do Employees need to realize how their value Employees need to realize how their value

systems differ from those of their systems differ from those of their coworkers.coworkers.

They must keep an open mind and adjust They must keep an open mind and adjust any negative views they have.any negative views they have.

Learning to work with diverse coworkers Learning to work with diverse coworkers helps build your character and make you a helps build your character and make you a valuable team member and employee.valuable team member and employee.

Diversity, Rights, and Diversity, Rights, and DiscriminationDiscrimination

Everyone has the Everyone has the right to fair treatment right to fair treatment in the workplace.in the workplace.

Discrimination: Discrimination: Treating people on a Treating people on a basis other than basis other than individual merit.individual merit.

The Law and DiscriminationThe Law and Discrimination Laws that promote fairness and fight Laws that promote fairness and fight

diversity in the workplace:diversity in the workplace: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938.Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938. Equal Pay Act of 1963.Equal Pay Act of 1963. 1964 Civil Rights Act (a 1968 amendment 1964 Civil Rights Act (a 1968 amendment

established criminal penalties).established criminal penalties). Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967.Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. 1991 Civil Rights Act.1991 Civil Rights Act.

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The Law and DiscriminationThe Law and Discrimination Criminal penalties:Criminal penalties: A court order to serve a jail A court order to serve a jail

sentence, perform community service, pay a sentence, perform community service, pay a fine, and/or report to a court-ordered fine, and/or report to a court-ordered supervisor for a specified period. supervisor for a specified period.

Two government offices that work the most Two government offices that work the most with equal opportunity employment issues are with equal opportunity employment issues are the Office of Federal Contract Compliance the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and the Equal Employment Programs (OFCCP) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Many state and local government agencies Many state and local government agencies deal with discriminatory practices locally.deal with discriminatory practices locally.

Types of Discrimination in Types of Discrimination in the Workplacethe Workplace

Unlawful workplace behavior includes:Unlawful workplace behavior includes: Sex discrimination.Sex discrimination. Racial discrimination.Racial discrimination. Color discrimination.Color discrimination. National origin discrimination.National origin discrimination. Language discrimination.Language discrimination. Religious discrimination.Religious discrimination. Discriminating against people with disabilities.Discriminating against people with disabilities. Age discrimination.Age discrimination. Height and weight restrictions.Height and weight restrictions. Discrimination based on sexual orientation.Discrimination based on sexual orientation. Pregnancy and maternity leave discrimination.Pregnancy and maternity leave discrimination.

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Types of Discrimination in Types of Discrimination in the Workplacethe Workplace

Stereotype:Stereotype: A label given to a person A label given to a person based on assumptions held about all based on assumptions held about all members of that person’s racial or cultural members of that person’s racial or cultural group.group.

Racism:Racism: The belief that one race is The belief that one race is superior or inferior to all others.superior or inferior to all others.

Sexual orientation:Sexual orientation: The gender preferred The gender preferred when choosing someone for an when choosing someone for an emotional/sexual relationship.emotional/sexual relationship.

Sexual Harassment Sexual Harassment in the Workplacein the Workplace

Sexual harassment: Sexual harassment: Unwelcome or Unwelcome or unwanted advances, requests for favors, unwanted advances, requests for favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.sexual nature.

Sexual harassment is primarily an issue of Sexual harassment is primarily an issue of power since the victim is usually power since the victim is usually subordinate or less influential.subordinate or less influential.

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Sexual Harassment Sexual Harassment in the Workplacein the Workplace

Quid pro quo harassment:Quid pro quo harassment: One person makes One person makes unwelcome sexual advances promising unwelcome sexual advances promising certain benefits if the other person complies.certain benefits if the other person complies.

Hostile environment harassment:Hostile environment harassment: Behavior Behavior that makes the environment uncomfortable that makes the environment uncomfortable enough that a person cannot do his or her enough that a person cannot do his or her job. May involve posting pictures, playing job. May involve posting pictures, playing music, or using body language.music, or using body language.

Body language:Body language: A means of expressing a A means of expressing a message through body movements, facial message through body movements, facial expressions, or hand gestures.expressions, or hand gestures.

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Sexual Harassment Sexual Harassment in the Workplacein the Workplace

Morale and workplace productivity are Morale and workplace productivity are affected by sexual harassment.affected by sexual harassment.

Victims usually suffer stress, depression, Victims usually suffer stress, depression, and inability to focus on work.and inability to focus on work.

Employers suffer because the victim and Employers suffer because the victim and aggressor are less effective in their jobs.aggressor are less effective in their jobs.

The Civil Rights Act of 1991 allows sexual The Civil Rights Act of 1991 allows sexual harassment victims a trial by jury and harassment victims a trial by jury and eligibility for compensatory and punitive eligibility for compensatory and punitive damages.damages.

Recognizing Sexual Recognizing Sexual HarassmentHarassment

If the aggressor If the aggressor continues after being continues after being told the behavior is told the behavior is not wanted, it is not wanted, it is considered sexual considered sexual harassment.harassment.

It is It is notnot sexual sexual harassment if the harassment if the person is comfortable person is comfortable with or welcomes the with or welcomes the aggressive behavior.aggressive behavior.

Facing Sexual Harassment Facing Sexual Harassment or Discriminationor Discrimination

No workplace is unaffected by sexual No workplace is unaffected by sexual harassment.harassment.

Be prepared to take the necessary steps to Be prepared to take the necessary steps to stop sexual harassment if it happens to stop sexual harassment if it happens to you.you.

Letting time pass and hoping the Letting time pass and hoping the aggressor stops rarely helps.aggressor stops rarely helps.

Discouraging the BehaviorDiscouraging the Behavior Follow these guidelines:Follow these guidelines:

Know your rights to a Know your rights to a workplace free of illegal workplace free of illegal behavior.behavior.

Know your company’s Know your company’s policy and reporting policy and reporting procedure.procedure.

Be businesslike at all Be businesslike at all times.times.

Make your intentions Make your intentions clear and correct any clear and correct any misinterpretations.misinterpretations.

Taking ActionTaking Action If you are subject to sexual harassment or If you are subject to sexual harassment or

discrimination:discrimination: Tell the aggressor to stop.Tell the aggressor to stop. Keep detailed records.Keep detailed records. Report the offense.Report the offense.

Reprisal:Reprisal: The revenge-motivated act of The revenge-motivated act of retaliating.retaliating.

Reprisal is illegal and should be reported Reprisal is illegal and should be reported to the EEOC.to the EEOC.

Thinking BackThinking Back How do employers benefit How do employers benefit

from diversity?from diversity? How can you promote How can you promote

diversity in the diversity in the workplace?workplace?

Give examples of Give examples of employment employment discrimination.discrimination.

How should you take How should you take action against any sexual action against any sexual harassment or harassment or discrimination directed at discrimination directed at you in the workplace?you in the workplace?