What is discrimination in the workplace?

A recent study by Clutch, a data-driven field guide for business decisions, found that a majority of employees in the U.S. believe discrimination and racism is an issue in U.S. workplaces, just not in their own.

Across the nation, Clutch surveyed 755 workers and found that 61% have experienced workplace discrimination either personally or as a witness, with 76% believing discrimination is a problem in U.S. companies. However, only 44% believe it’s an issue at their own workplace.

This got me thinking: What do people consider discrimination in the workplace?

Many people don’t realize that discrimination comes in several forms – especially if they have never experience discrimination themselves. Some forms of discrimination are less obvious to the naked eye, like microaggressions.

Microaggressions are defined as comments or actions that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally express a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group. The difference between microaggressions and overt discrimination is that the people who commit microaggressions may not even be aware of it.

Examples of racial microaggressions in the workplace can include anything from assuming a coworker of color is in a lower job title than their white colleague to gaslighting a coworker of color who claims a comment was racist and referring to them as “too sensitive.”

As we continue to navigate anti-racism and advocate for diversity and inclusion, it’s important to check your own bias and make sure to hold your colleagues accountable.