What It Means By Systemic Discrimination & Why It''s Important

Duration: 7-9 minutes

Systemic Discrimination

Systemic discrimination is when there exists discrimination as a 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. Only a few of the victims realize that they are being mocked, but others don''t even get to the fact that they are being the target of mockery amongst others.

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 is simply defined as the act of discriminating against any person or group of persons based on appearance, gender, color, disability, condition, and many more. It does not end at mockery but a way of being treated different from others. 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"".

Knowingly or unknowingly this happens daily at the workplace. If we list out some of them here, you will be amazed to know that they are termed as ""systemic discrimination"".

These practices, if encouraged, can leave a deep impact on a person''s 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 systemic discrimination happens? Why are we so comfortable with calling people with odd names? Why are we not looking at the other side of this? Why aren''t we thinking what a person thinks when you treat them differently from others?

No, right? Because we have normalized it to an extent that we don''t register this as an offense anymore. We have a basic mindset which straight up accepts it.

Systemic Discrimination within an Organization

Systemic discrimination within an organization happens in various ways such as:

• Age Factors: Sometimes, 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 posts like ""young minds"", ""fresh graduates"", ""only male applicants"", ""female applicants needed"".
• Nepotistic Mindsets: Giving preference to 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 any community in LGBTQIA, we often see how they are harassed on a daily basis.
• Religious Practices: People following different religious practices are viewed very differently.
• Health Issues: When there is an employee who becomes 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 to avail of it. She is seen as a more sensitive employee than others.
• An Only English Policy: 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 Hiring Stage: Systemic discrimination before the applicant is even hired can consist of a number of practices that may seem pretty ordinary. These may include:
  • Paying women less than men.
  • Grading favorite applicants.
  • Background checks.
  • Providing credits based on someone''s approach.
  • Streamlining the job positions according to the ethnicity or sex 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.
• Under the Acts of ADA and GINA: It means American Disability Act and Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act. These acts are for protecting the rights of those employees who are genetically sick or disabled. This involves:
  • 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.

According to Deloitte, six in 10 Gen Zs and 56% of millennials say that systemic racism is pervasive in society at large. Past year''s workings have, however, spotlighted the issue of racial discrimination so much that 55% of all the respondents believe that society is ""at a tipping point, and there will be positive change from this point forward"".

Everybody is supposed to be treated equally, and as an employer, it becomes your responsibility to take notice of such incidents and mete out the required justice to the victim of the same.

In the final countdown of this very knowledgeable write-up, which answers all our questions, is hope that we helped you in enlightening your knowledge. We will be bringing more in for you! Till then keep reading, keep thinking and keep HRing!

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