Stop Discrimination of Protected Characteristics

Discriminating on race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, is illegal and can have a negative impact on individuals and the work environment. But sometimes, they can go unnoticed, unchecked, or even unreported. It is important for organizations to take steps to prevent discrimination and create a welcoming and inclusive work environment for all employees. Here are:

6 Strategies to Stop Discrimination of Protected Characteristics at Work

1?? Create and communicate a formal anti-discrimination policy. Organizations can develop a policy that clearly defines discrimination, outlines all prohibited behavior, and explains the consequences for perpetrating or condoning discrimination. The policy should be communicated to all employees – from management to staff, including new hires – to ensure that everyone is aware of the policy and its intent.

2?? Investigate all complaints. Take all complaints of discrimination seriously. Investigate them thoroughly and in a timely manner to ensure fairness and justice.

3?? Encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion. Strive to create an inclusive environment where all employees are respected and valued, regardless of their protected characteristics. Create diversity initiatives, celebrate diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and ensure that recruitment and hiring processes are non-discriminatory.

4?? Provide training and education. Provide training to all employees on the importance of diversity and inclusion, as well as the consequences of discrimination. This training should cover topics such as the definition of discrimination, the impact of discrimination on individuals and the organization, and strategies for preventing and addressing discrimination.

5?? Conduct regular evaluations. Regularly evaluate the work environment to ensure that it is free from discrimination and that all employees are treated fairly. This could include surveying employees to gather feedback on their experiences, conducting focus groups or interviews, or reviewing data on diversity and inclusion metrics.

6?? Establish a reporting system. Establishing a system that can help employees confidentially and safely report any instances of discrimination.

When implemented correctly, these steps can help organizations create a safe and respectful workplace where employees are not discriminated against based on their protected characteristics. While it is important for organizations to develop policies and procedures to address discrimination, it is even more important that the culture of the organization reflects a genuine commitment to eliminating discrimination of any kind. By creating an inclusive and respectful workplace, organizations can ensure that their employees feel safe and respected and that discrimination is not tolerated.

DCC knows that beyond implementing rules and systems, these changes must be joined to the company's culture. This way, it spreads to each member of the organization organically. Our Organizational Development programs are here to help with just that. We look at the heart of the issue and adapt time-tested, scientifically-proven, and data-driven solutions that work. It's time we showed you how. Please email us at [email protected].

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