How to Prevent Discrimination at Work | Workplace Discrimination

Summary

In this video, Shelly discusses the importance of preventing discrimination in the workplace through effective DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives. She emphasizes the need for organizations to identify and address unconscious biases, establish strong anti-discrimination policies with clear consequences, and create a safe and inclusive environment for all employees. The video also highlights the significance of recognizing harmful behaviors and promoting respect for differences at all levels of the organization. Shelly encourages viewers to engage with her Pluralsight courses for further learning on fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

Takeaways

• 💼 DEI initiatives are not enough to prevent discrimination; unconscious bias must also be addressed.
• 🛡️ It's essential to create a safe and comfortable environment for all employees, focusing on both mental and physical well-being.
• 📜 A strong anti-discrimination policy with clear consequences for violations is crucial for fostering trust and accountability.
• 🚫 Harmful behaviors must be identified and addressed, including both conscious discrimination and unconscious biases.
• 👥 Discrimination can take many forms, such as denying promotions, assigning impossible tasks, or isolating individuals.
• ⚠️ Harassment, including unwanted sexual advances, is a form of discrimination that must be taken seriously with strict consequences.
• 👁️ Raising self-awareness and learning about different perspectives is key to preventing discrimination.
• 🤝 Encouraging respect for differences at the leadership level is essential for creating a culture of inclusion that filters down to employees.
• 📞 Employees should be encouraged to report discrimination or harassment to HR, with assurances that complaints will be handled promptly and confidentially.
• 📚 DEI initiatives must include employee feedback to be effective, ensuring that inclusiveness is a shared effort across the organization.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is preventing discrimination in the workplace, with a focus on the importance of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives and addressing unconscious bias.

Why is it not enough for companies to simply put DEI initiatives in place?

It is not enough for companies to simply put DEI initiatives in place because unconscious bias runs deep, and individuals need to learn how to identify their own biases to prevent future discrimination.

What is the significance of providing a safe space for employees in the context of preventing discrimination?

Providing a safe space for employees is significant as it ensures a comfortable and safe work environment, which is crucial for both mental and physical health discussions in the workplace.

Why is it important to have a strong anti-discrimination policy with firm guidelines and consequences?

A strong anti-discrimination policy with firm guidelines and consequences is important to deter offensive behavior and to ensure that those who violate the policy are held accountable.

What are some examples of workplace discrimination mentioned in the script?

Examples of workplace discrimination include denying promotions or benefits, being given impossible tasks, exclusion or isolation by co-workers, and harassment in the form of unwanted sexual advances.

How can organizations identify harmful behaviors and unconscious biases?

Organizations can identify harmful behaviors and unconscious biases by educating employees on discrimination, which includes negative actions or attitudes towards individuals or groups based on their characteristics such as race, gender, age, religion, nationality, disability, and gender identity.

What is the role of leadership in preventing discrimination?

Leadership plays a crucial role in preventing discrimination by encouraging respect for differences, setting an example, and ensuring that DEI initiatives are enforced throughout the organization.

Why is it important for employees experiencing discrimination to contact HR?

It is important for employees experiencing discrimination to contact HR to address complaints promptly and confidentially, which helps in maintaining trust that issues will be handled appropriately.

How can employees help shape an inclusive company culture through DEI initiatives?

Employees can help shape an inclusive company culture by providing feedback on DEI initiatives, participating in training, and actively supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

What resources are mentioned in the script for learning more about DEI practices?

The script mentions Pluralsight courses on DEI practices, including increasing mental health awareness, managing technical professionals, and launching successful teams, as well as a podcast called TRS and Tech.

How can viewers engage with the content and stay updated on future content and events?

Viewers can engage with the content by liking, subscribing, and sharing the video, visiting the website hofstech.com, subscribing to the newsletter, following on Twitter at @sBenhoff, and checking out the podcast and YouTube channel.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Preventing Discrimination in the Workplace

The script emphasizes the importance of preventing discrimination in the workplace through comprehensive DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives. It highlights that simply having DEI initiatives is not enough; employees must be educated to recognize their unconscious biases. The necessity of a safe and comfortable work environment is underscored, with a strong anti-discrimination policy that includes clear consequences for violations. The script also discusses the identification of harmful behaviors and unconscious bias, providing examples of workplace discrimination such as denial of promotions, impossible tasks, exclusion, and harassment. It stresses the need for prevention measures, respect for differences, and prompt HR intervention for complaints. The speaker also promotes her Pluralsight courses on DEI practices, which include animated training to support an inclusive workplace culture.

05:08

🌟 Closing Remarks

The second paragraph serves as a brief closing to the video, thanking viewers for watching and wishing them a great day.

Keywords

💡Discrimination

Discrimination refers to unfair treatment or prejudice towards individuals or groups based on certain characteristics such as race, gender, age, religion, or disability. In the context of the video, discrimination is a central issue that organizations must actively prevent in the workplace. The script mentions various forms of workplace discrimination, such as denying promotions or benefits, and exclusion by co-workers, which are all actions that can create an unwelcoming and harmful environment.

💡Unconscious Bias

Unconscious bias, also known as implicit bias, is a term that describes the automatic, subconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions without our conscious knowledge. The video emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing unconscious biases to prevent discrimination. It suggests that even with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in place, unconscious bias can still lead to discriminatory behavior if not identified and managed.

💡DEI Initiatives

DEI Initiatives stand for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts within an organization. These initiatives aim to create a workplace that is welcoming and fair to all, regardless of their background. The script points out that while many companies implement DEI initiatives, they may not be sufficient on their own to prevent discrimination, as they need to be accompanied by education on unconscious bias and clear policies against harmful behavior.

💡Safe Space

A safe space in the context of the video refers to an environment where employees feel comfortable, respected, and free from discrimination or harassment. The video stresses the importance of organizations providing such spaces, especially considering the growing awareness of mental and physical health in the workplace. Safe spaces are crucial for employee well-being and productivity.

💡Anti-Discrimination Policy

An anti-discrimination policy is a set of rules and guidelines that prohibit discrimination within an organization. The video highlights the necessity of having a strong anti-discrimination policy that includes clear consequences for violations. This policy serves as a deterrent and a framework for addressing any instances of discrimination, ensuring that all employees are protected.

💡Harmful Behavior

Harmful behavior, as discussed in the video, encompasses any actions or attitudes that cause harm or discomfort to others in the workplace. This can include discrimination, harassment, or creating a hostile work environment. The video emphasizes the need to identify and address harmful behaviors to prevent discrimination and to foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

💡Consequences

In the video, consequences refer to the repercussions or penalties that an organization imposes on individuals who violate its anti-discrimination policy. The script makes it clear that without serious consequences, harmful behavior is likely to continue or escalate. Consequences are essential for enforcing policies and ensuring that all employees feel protected.

💡Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions, biases, and behaviors. The video encourages individuals to learn about workplace discrimination and unconscious bias to raise their self-awareness. By being more self-aware, employees can better identify their biases and take steps to mitigate them, contributing to a more inclusive workplace.

💡Respect for Differences

Respect for differences is the appreciation and acceptance of the diverse characteristics, backgrounds, and perspectives that individuals bring to the workplace. The video suggests that fostering an environment where employees respect each other's differences is key to preventing discrimination. This respect should start at the leadership level and be modeled and encouraged throughout the organization.

💡Inclusive Company Culture

An inclusive company culture is one that values and supports the full participation of all employees, regardless of their background. The video discusses the importance of shaping an inclusive company culture through feedback from employees and DEI initiatives. An inclusive culture is one where all employees feel valued and have equal opportunities to contribute and succeed.

💡Feedback

Feedback in the context of the video refers to the input and suggestions provided by employees regarding their experiences and the effectiveness of DEI initiatives. The script emphasizes that feedback is crucial for organizations to understand the needs of their workforce and to shape an inclusive culture that genuinely addresses the concerns and experiences of all employees.

Highlights

Preventing discrimination in the workplace requires more than just DEI initiatives.

Unconscious bias is deeply ingrained and needs to be identified and addressed.

Organizations must provide a safe and comfortable environment for all employees.

A strong anti-discrimination policy with clear consequences is essential.

Protecting all employees and customers from discrimination and harmful behavior is crucial.

Harmful behavior can have lasting effects, especially if reported and not addressed.

Learning to identify harmful behaviors and unconscious biases is key to prevention.

Discrimination can manifest in various forms such as denial of promotions or benefits.

Harassment, including unwanted sexual advances, is a form of discrimination.

Enforcing DEI initiatives must include serious consequences for discrimination or harassment.

Education and raising self-awareness are important steps in preventing workplace discrimination.

Encouraging respect for differences should start at the leadership level.

Employees experiencing discrimination should be advised to contact HR promptly.

Having guidelines for handling harmful behavior instills trust in employees.

Teamwork is necessary to ensure a discrimination-free workplace.

DEI initiatives should be shaped with employee feedback for an inclusive company culture.

Shelly Benhoff offers DEI practices in her Pluralsight courses for improved workplace inclusivity.

Animated scenario-based training is used to support diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Hofstech.com offers courses and resources for learning about DEI.

Engagement from viewers, such as comments and sharing, is encouraged to promote workplace inclusivity.

Transcripts

hello, world my name is shelly and today we're  going to talk about preventing discrimination in  

the workplace. Many companies put DEI initiatives  in place and think that’s enough. Unfortunately,  

unconscious bias runs deep and people need  to learn how to identify their own biases  

to prevent future discrimination. We must discuss  preventing discrimination in the workplace.

Protect All Employees It’s important for organizations  

to provide a safe space for its employees. We all  want to work in an environment where we all feel  

comfortable and safe. This is especially important  now that both mental and physical health are being  

discussed in the workplace. This starts with  a strong anti-discrimination policy. You must  

include firm guidelines for the consequences of  violating such a policy. Without consequences, you  

will embolden those who are offensive to continue  to be offensive and perhaps even up their game.

You must protect all employees and customers  from discrimination and harmful behaviour.  

You cannot undo harmful behaviour. If  you’re like me, the memories of times  

when people were harmful to you resurface  from time to time. This happens especially  

when the harmful behaviour was  reported but nothing was done.

Identify Harmful Behaviors and Unconscious Bias Before you can prevent workplace discrimination  

from happening in the first place, you must learn  how to identify harmful behaviours and unconscious  

biases. Discrimination is a negative action  or attitude towards a group or a person  

based on their characteristics. These can  include race, gender, age, religion, nationality,  

disability, gender identity, and other  marginalized groups covered by applicable law.

Some examples of workplace discrimination include:

Denying promotions or benefits Being given impossible tasks 

Exclusion or isolation by co-workers Harassment is also a form of discrimination.  

This often occurs when someone offers unwanted  sexual advances to someone they work with.  

When you enforce your DEI initiatives,  you must ensure that any employee who  

discriminates or harasses another  colleague will face serious consequences.

So, how do you prevent discrimination from  happening at all in the workplace? If you’ve  

read this far, you are on the right path. You  need to learn about this issue with videos just  

like this one. This will help you to see  things from other people’s points of view  

as well as raise your own self-awareness.

Prevention Measures You should encourage each  

other to respect each other’s differences.  This needs to happen at the leadership  

level which will then trickle  down to each individual employee.  

If anyone in your organization is experiencing  discrimination, advise them to contact HR to  

address the complaint promptly and confidentially.  When you have guidelines for handling harmful  

behaviour, this gives your employees a level  of trust that the issue will be taken care of.

You have to work together with your team to  ensure that no discrimination or harassment  

happens in the workplace. You cannot roll out DEI  initiatives without feedback from your employees,  

they should help you to shape an inclusive  company culture. I teach dei practices in  

several of my Pluralsight courses including  increasing mental health awareness for improved  

inclusiveness managing technical professionals  and launching successful teams these courses  

include animated scenario-based training following  a cast of characters from course to course  

as they learn to support diversity equity and  inclusion in the workplace visit hofstech.com  

dei to get started with these courses today how  are you going to prevent discrimination in your  

workplace let me know in the comments and please  be sure to like subscribe and share this video  

visit our website at hofstech.com and subscribe  to my newsletter to be notified when I publish  

content and schedule events follow me on Twitter  at s Benhoff and check out my podcast TRS and tech  

available now wherever you get your  podcasts and on the trz tech youtube channel  

thanks for watching and have a great day.