Systemic discrimination refers to a situation where discriminatory actions occur as part of the normal functioning of the system. This discrimination is usually unseen or ignored as a part of normal practice because it is never paid attention to. It is hard to identify at times.
It can happen to people based on their gender, race, color, disability, and conditions. A few of the victims realize that they are being mocked but others don’t even get to the fact that they are being a target of mockery amongst others.
In this article, we will learn about systemic discrimination in details,
What is Systemic Discrimination?
I am sure, you must have seen a boy in a local restaurant near highways being called “Chhotu”, right? We find it very normal because it is thought to be a non-derogatory comment for that boy. But do you realize in what other ways it can be concluded? We normalized it when it had to be opposed.
Systemic discrimination, in general terms, means that any person or the group of persons is being discriminated with respect to their appearance, gender, color, disability, condition they are in. Here, discrimination is not just about mockery but also being treated differently from other. They are way too normal in our surroundings that we don’t even realize the fact that the people are facing differences.
Systemic Discrimination in the Workplace
Systemic discrimination happens too often that it is hard to identify. This type of discrimination is commonly performed at the workplace. The reason why it is also known as, “institutionalized discrimination” or “structural discrimination”.
At the workplace, knowingly or unknowingly this happens daily. If we list out some of them here, you will be amazed to know that they are termed as “systemic discrimination”.
Encouraging these practices can leave a deep impact on a persons’ morale and confidence. This may take a toll on their mental health, in extreme cases.
Why does Systemic Discrimination Happen?
Have you ever thought why does systemic discrimination happen? Why are we so comfortable with calling people with odd names? Why are we not looking at the other side of this? Why are we not thinking what is the thought process of a person when you treat them different from others?
No, right? Because we have normalized it to an extent that we don’t register this as an offence anymore. We have a basic mindset that straight up accept it.
Systemic Discrimination within an Organization
Systemic discrimination within an organization happens in various ways such as
- Age factors: At times, employees are preferred with respect to the age bar they belong to. They are even allotted responsibilities with respect to their age.
- Organizational processes: There are certain processes of the organization where systemic discrimination has a major role. For instance,
- Paying women less than men in the organization.
- Promoting favorable employees while ignoring others who have potential.
- Preferences in job postings like “young minds”, “fresh graduates”, “only male applicants”, “female applicants needed”.
- Nepotistic mindsets: Preferring employees who are somehow related to the employer or any of the C-suite.
- Sexuality: Treating someone oddly because of their sexuality. If someone belongs to an LGBTQIA+ community, we often witness the harassment faced by them regularly.
- Religious practices: People following different religious practices are seen very differently.
- Health issues: When there is an employee who is sick or has other health issues, they are treated adversely.
- Mandatory maternity leave: A pregnant woman is given a mandatory maternity leave even if she doesn’t want it. She is seen as a more sensitive employee than others.
- An only English rule: Many companies especially the big ones, prefer their work environment to look sophisticated because they might have some foreign clients. This suppresses their employees with the burden to always speak in English.
Types of Systemic Discrimination we Should Know
Systemic discrimination can be of various types and can be done through different approaches. A few of them are:
- At the time of hiring: Before the applicant is hired, systemic discrimination can include different practices that may seem normal such as,
- Paying women less than men.
- Favoritism towards a particular applicant.
- Background checks.
- Giving credits due to someone’s approach.
- Directing the job roles as per the ethnicity or gender of the applicant.
- Through company policies: Company policies are built in such a manner that they somehow dedicate part of it towards systemic discrimination. Like,
- Mandatory retirement.
- Unequal benefits in paternal leaves to men and women.
- Lay-offs, reduction in salary, delay in compensations due to employee favoritism.
- English only rule.
- Mandatory formal dress code.
- Based on ADA and GINA act: ADA (American Disability Act) and GINA (Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act) are the acts that protects the rights of genetically ill and disabled employees. This includes,
- Distributing the task or job based on an employee’s disability or illness.
- Mandatory annual health check-ups for them.
- 100 percent healed back-to-work restrictions.
- Non-accommodated medical leave.
Equality is a right of every living being on the earth.
A report from Deloitte , six in 10 Gen Zs and 56% of millennials say systemic racism is widespread in general society. However, the past year has prioritized the issue of racial discrimination in such a way that 55% of all survey respondents believe society is “at a tipping point and there will be positive change from this point forward.”
Everyone should be treated equally and as an employer it is your responsibility to address such incidents and do the justice to the victim of the same.
As we come towards the end of this very knowledgeable write-up that answer all our questions. I hope we helped you to enlighten your knowledge. We’ll keep bringing more in for you! Till then keep reading, keep thinking and keep HRing!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let’s come to our favorite part, The FAQs.
1. What is systemic discrimination?
Systemic discrimination is a type of discrimination in which discriminatory action occurs as a part of the normal functioning of the system. They are performed too often by a person that they are hard to realize. They can be most witnessed at a workplace due to which it is also known as “structural discrimination” or “institutionalized discrimination”.
2. How can employers identify and address systemic discrimination?
An organization works with the commitment of the employees. To maintain harmony in the company, the employer is responsible for helping resolve the employee’s problem. Systemic discrimination can be identified and addressed by the employer in many ways.
- By analyzing and reforming the policies that may affect the employees’ emotional health.
- Reconstructing the culture of the organization to maintain a peaceful and buddy environment. Everyone should be treated equally irrespective of their gender, culture, religion and ethnicity.
- Encouraging different cultural practices to be performed in the organization. Using them as the themes of the events by letting everyone participate in the decision-making.