The Workplace Stigma That Won’t Budge

Employers are increasingly saying they want to know about their employees’ challenges with wellbeing. But it’s not as simple as coming forward to your boss. Plus, why ‘quiet quitting’ isn’t really anything new.

Are employers really open to hearing about mental-health struggles?

Good news in the pandemic era: employers are increasingly recognising how their employees are struggling with wellbeing, especially regarding mental health. Many have offered support through increased access to counselling and other resources, and some have even responded with impromptu days – or weeks – off to help.

Bad news in the pandemic era: mental-health conversations still remain stigmatised – and some biases are so deeply entrenched that workers continue to pay the price for opening up, even amid increased support. This poses major challenges to employees who are hearing that they need to come forward to get help, but may still be hit with penalties for revealing their struggles.

Read more from Megan Carnegie on the workplace stigma that won’t budge.?

Height discrimination: How 'heightism' affects careers

Data shows that on a professional level, stature affects both men and women in tangible, albeit slightly different, ways. Studies show height correlates with higher income: recruiters often favour taller candidates and height influences promotion opportunities. Research demonstrates we perceive taller men and women as more 'leader-like', deeming them more dominant, intelligent and healthier; tall men are more likely to attain managerial positions.

Height discrimination is one of the least-known or discussed biases, and one of the hardest to confirm. It’s also difficult to identify in the workplace. And this covertness is what makes it particularly tough to eradicate.

Read more from Aysha Imtiaz on how your height can shape your career.

Why ‘quiet quitting’ is nothing new?

The buzzword ‘quiet quitting’ has spread quickly and prolifically, often touted as a new phenomenon unique to the pandemic era. But experts say the act of slowly withdrawing from overworking has actually been happening for decades, albeit under different labels. However, this term’s new-found popularity says a lot about work now – and what we expect from it in the future.

Read more from Alex Christian on what quiet quitting shows us about work.

More around the BBC:

• Some flexible firms are taking a break from fixed bank holidays.
• ?Young workers simply can’t shake presenteeism, even in a remote world.
• ?Ben Gray lost his restaurant job during the pandemic and turned his home into a bakery in lockdown.

Thanks for reading this week. We’ll be back next week with another edition of Worklife 101. Find us at BBC Worklife?and?BBC Business until then.

–Meredith Turits, Editor, BBC Worklife

Images: Getty Images