Discrimination can appear in many forms, including age, abilities, race, gender, and beliefs, and it impacts more than just the individuals involved. In fact, it can knock the spirit out of a team and affect how well everyone works together. For this reason, we believe that businesses need to step up, spot these issues, and sort them out before they become a broader problem. If done correctly, it creates a workspace that is buzzing with ideas and gives everyone a fair chance at success. Sounds like a worthwhile cause to us.

We will explain some of the most common types of discrimination (with one or two real-world examples to provide additional clarity) while also discussing how to avoid it in the workplace once and for all. But first, What is discrimination in the workplace? Let’s provide an overview to get a deeper understanding.

What is discrimination in the workplacee?

If people at work get the short end of the stick because of their race, gender, age, beliefs, or preferences, it is workplace discrimination. It is not always in your face. Sometimes, it is underhanded, like people getting better chances to climb the career ladder or a hiring panel that has its favourites and doesn’t give everyone a fair chance. Getting to grips with this stuff matters. We believe that recognising and addressing these issues is essential to creating a diverse, inclusive, and respectful office culture, all of which are critical factors in any modern workplace.

What are different types of discrimination in the workplace?

The modern office is becoming a friendlier and more inclusive place, but there are still several known types of discrimination in the workplace. However, understanding each of these is a positive move toward creating a happier and more productive workplace in the future. Here, we explain the key areas that everyone should be aware of:

1. Age discrimination in the workplace

A common occurrence is when older employees are overlooked for promotions and training opportunities or when job adverts subtly suggest a preference for younger applicants. Age discrimination in the workplace can also appear in casual office talk, where age-related jokes or stereotypes become commonplace, marginalising certain age groups.

2. Handicap discrimination in the workplace

Handicap discrimination in the workplace becomes evident when there is a lack of accessible facilities for disabled employees or when there is an apparent reluctance to provide reasonable adjustments. It's also noticeable in the unequal treatment in hiring or promoting individuals, or assignments that are based on physical or mental disability rather than capability.

3. Racial discrimination in the workplace

The issue of racial discrimination in the workplace appears when employees of specific racial backgrounds face stereotypes, are excluded from social or professional opportunities, or receive less favourable treatment compared to others. It's also present in subtle prejudices during recruitment, where candidates from certain racial backgrounds are overlooked.

4. Gender discrimination in the workplace

A big talking point in recent years has been when one gender is preferred over another in promotions, salary, or job roles. Gender discrimination in the workplace is visible in the inconsistent representation of one gender at certain levels within the company. This also shows in a work culture that maintains gender stereotypes or tolerates gender-based jokes.

5. Religious discrimination in the workplace

It often takes place when employees are treated differently due to their religious beliefs. Religious discrimination in the workplace tends to show itself through inflexibility around religious observations, lack of respect for religious attire or practices, or when jokes and comments about certain religions are tolerated, creating an unfriendly environment.

Indirect discrimination in the workplace: Real-life examples

• Job advertisement wording: Some job adverts unintentionally favour a certain demographic. For example, a job requiring "recent graduates" might indirectly discriminate against older applicants. Or, specifying the need for a "digital native" can be exclusive, subtly suggesting a preference for younger candidates, and therefore side-lining older yet equally skilled professionals in the process.
  ‍
• Rigid work schedules: Enforcing strict 9-to-5 working hours without considering different needs can be indirectly unfair. This approach overlooks employees who might have family commitments, such as picking up children from school, as well as those with religious practices requiring flexibility, unintentionally putting them at a disadvantage compared to others.
  ‍
• Dress codes: Rules around clothes often don’t consider cultural or religious attire. For instance, a policy excluding headscarves or turbans affects those wearing them for religious reasons. Likewise, strict gender-based dress codes can be a disadvantage for transgender or non-binary employees, as they may not feel comfortable in gender-specific clothing. These are classic indirect discrimination in the workplace examples.
  ‍
• Group training: Offering education exclusively to teach specific groups, such as high-potential programs for younger employees, can be indirectly discriminatory. It overlooks the development needs of others, like older employees or part-timers, or it can even link to disability discrimination in the workplace. In short, people could benefit but are not considered due to their age or their physical status.

How to avoid discrimination in the workplace

Creating a healthy working environment is something that we hold close to our hearts. To achieve that, employers must actively promote diversity and inclusivity at all levels. Recent trends include implicit bias training, diverse hiring panels, and regular reviews of company policies to identify and repair any indirect discrimination that might be taking place.

Flexible work arrangements play a role in making this happen naturally. Our advanced Flexopus booking system enables varied work schedules and hybrid working options, adapting to all different lifestyles and personal needs. We believe that this flexibility is key to creating a fair working environment where all employees feel valued and have equal chances to thrive, regardless of their background or personal circumstances.

How to promote equality with Flexopus—The Desk-Sharing Solution

Not everyone commits such discrimination on purpose, which is why we believe that educating people on the rights and wrongs can go a long way in fixing many of the issues. Sometimes, we need a little helping hand in battling discrimination in the workplace, and Flexopus has many features onboard to do just that.

By revolutionising workplace equality through our innovative desk-sharing solution, Flexopus creates a level playing field by giving everyone equal access to desks, meeting rooms, and parking spots. With Flexopus, you can not only book your workdesks in advance, but also add features to desks like “wheelchair-accessible table” to make sure that everyone has their needs met when it comes to the workplace. Such an approach instantly creates a sense of fairness and inclusivity, which, as we have explained in this article, is essential for a healthy work culture moving forward.

‍

We believe that every workplace and every piece of software should be accessible. Our software is accessible according to the international WCAG and BITV 2.0 standards. Our commitment to a fair and accessible working environment for all is a big step towards inclusion. That's why we encourage companies to promote equality by integrating Flexopus into their office management.

Final words on discrimination in the workplace

Creating a productive work environment means being able to recognise and tackle discrimination based on age, disability, race, gender, and religion. All companies need to take a proactive approach to this issue, and we are proud to say that Flexopus is leading the way in promoting equality and inclusivity. We want everyone to have complete access and feel comfortable at work, full stop. Ultimately, what all this comes down to is respect. If everyone can learn to work with each other in a respectful and considerate manner, it gives everyone a chance to shine and be the best that they can be in their working environment.