Living in a world wracked with social issues, it is no surprise that there are very prominent instances of the same in the workplace. Of the several atrocities in society, the one most commonly noticed in the workplace is racism and discrimination. These patterns are extremely toxic and often make the work atmosphere threatening or demeaning for the discriminated individuals.
What Is Meant By Social Issues In The Workplace?
There are many social issues in the workplace that it becomes difficult to tackle all of them at once. According to research, 70% of 1000 polled employees have voiced the need for the company to address these social issues. There’s a very prominent 52% among them who think that companies must resolve these issues.
It is very possible that employers might be unable to understand the amount of representation to give in the workplace. For this purpose, all they need to do is look into statistical reports and research. The data has to be analyzed and taken into account to allow a sense of comfort and concern.
Social Issues In The Workplace And How To Take Them On
For all the people doing their job search, the hiring company should strive to create a safe space. Racism, discrimination, and socio-cultural discomforts should have an open and unbiased platform where employees can raise their issues. Apart from these, take a look at the following points to better understand how to tackle these social issues efficiently in the workplace.
1. Hiring
To understand the disparity between races or cultures when it comes to job recruitment, the upper management needs to collectively look into these stats. According to research, black and hispanic groups have often felt intimidated or overlooked when it comes to recruitment in the U.S.
In fact, looking at the figures reveals that while 47% of White people think that corporations acknowledge and contemplate racial and cultural differences, a mere 19% of Black people think so. Therefore, underrepresentation is a fundamental problem in the workplace and needs to be tackled by closing the gap gradually. This can only be done by giving one the opportunity they deserve, without racially discriminating.
2. Promotion
While on a job search, several racially compromised individuals have often admitted that despite having quality experience and a deserving resume, they’re often hired at a lower-ranking position. The bigotry is extremely prominent when it comes to promotions. A renowned magazine also remarked that the number of Black CEOs in the bigger corporations is dwindling.
This behavior is often demotivating. It gives them a sense of being trapped in the job with no future prospects. This problem can be solved by giving individuals the position they deserve in a job irrespective of race or class.
3. Pay Gaps
The pay gap, when taken into account, shows that Black people and Hispanic people almost always remain on the lower rungs of payment. This inequality in payment is a very demeaning and demoralizing attribute for the discriminated individuals.
Discriminated groups often report of this type of pay gap during their job search. Be it the high, medium, or low-wage earners, the discrimination is always very apparent for them. The only way to tackle this is for companies to keep closing this pay gap eventually, one step at a time.
4. Discrimination Problems
Apart from the very specific problems mentioned above, we often overrule or push aside other miscellaneous cases of discrimination as well. For example, racial intolerance can titillate certain employees to harass the races they’re biased against. This can be spreading rumors, verbal abuse, physical abuse, assault, or even sexual harassment.
In all of these cases, the management has to make sure that the jury hears the side of the one violated and doesn’t just dismiss it because of racial snarling on their part. This sets a very high example of battling racism and is a major helping hand in solving issues in the workplace.
Apart from these, there are a few other problems as well,
- Gossips and Rumours
- Bullying
- Low Job Satisfaction
- Harassment and Abuse
- Suppressed tension affecting work quality.
In Conclusion
A world that’s already falling apart in a pandemic situation needs unity in diversity. Everyone has to be holding up everyone and helping them get through these difficult times. Empathy is the key. It is time to start breaking down the social evils bit by bit to create a better tomorrow, and hence, do away with all the issues in the workplace.
About the Author
BCjobs.ca is Western Canada’s largest job board, with majority of the jobs coming from Vancouver. For nearly 20 years, BC Jobs has connected job candidates with companies looking to add talent to their team. If your team is looking to recruit, BCJobs.ca is the right tool for you. Our job board has grown through virtual career fairs, branding, and partnerships. Contact us at community@bcjobs.ca today.
