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Diversity in the Workplace

To be illegal, harassment must be sufficiently severe personality, which has been formed by family, school, the
or pervasive to alter the conditions of employment and media and community environments.
create an intimidating or abusive work environment. Prejudice has been defined as an attitude based partly
Although courts do not usually hold employers liable for on observation and partly on ignorance, fear, and cultural
violations based on isolated derogatory remarks in the patterns, none of which has a rational basis. A prejudiced
workplace, many recognize that in the right context one person tends to think of all members of a group as being
slur can effectively destroy a working relationship and can the same, giving little consideration to individual differ-
create a hostile environment, particularly if the comment ences. This kind of thinking gives rise to stereotypes.
is made by a supervisor. Stereotypes, like prejudices, are based partly on obser-
At the organizational level, employers must be sensi- vation and partly on ignorance and tradition. For example,
tive to local, state, and federal regulations that address all a person who assumes that all women are overly emotional
types of discrimination in employment. With today’s is subscribing to a widely held but false stereotype.
diverse workplace, the goal is to increase the chances of Stereotypes are difficult to overcome because they
equal opportunity for all workers and mutual respect in
usually develop over a long time. Some stereotypes are
the workplace. shared by many people, giving them an illusion of ration-
ality. Many people, however, are trying to rid themselves
EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES of stereotyped thinking about others. This effort reflects a
Providing a workplace free from harassment is one of the growing consciousness that people are individuals and can
basic responsibilities of an employer. Although sexual and should be treated as such.
harassment has received most of the public attention, The basis of prejudice toward a subgroup of society is
harassment can take many forms. As employers add staff often found in economic or psychological factors. Most
from a variety of ethnic, religious, age, and cultural groups, free-market countries have a diversity of social groups.
maintaining a harmonious workplace is critical. Given our The social mobility concept postulates that as one sub-
increasing litigious society, it is inevitable that court deci- group moves up in economic terms, it is replaced by a less
sions related to other forms of harassment will increase. fortunate subgroup that is seeking a better way of life.
A major challenge for all employers is to assimilate a Since the mid-1800s, various ethnic groups have
variety of employees into the mainstream of corporate life. immigrated to the United States in waves. Tension
Women and minorities are sometimes excluded from between subgroups is often a result of economic competi-
social activities or left out of informal communications tion for jobs, shelter, and social status. When physical dif-
networks. The result appears to be a sense of isolation, ferences, religious beliefs, ethical values, and traditions
lower organizational commitment, and ultimately a deci- differ, subgroups can feel threatened and can sometimes
sion to seek employment in a more welcoming environ- take inappropriate actions.
ment. For example, a woman feeling left out may think Sometimes, there is a short-term macroeconomic
that too much emphasis is placed on getting along with gain for employers in aiding and abetting discrimination
others in senior management: “As a woman, I do not fit in the workplace. Competition for jobs among workers
into the group of males who go to lunch together and play can help employers to lower wages and neglect working
golf together. These are the guys who get the promotions.” conditions. Employers often threaten striking workers
As workforce diversity increases, exclusion and isola- with the prospect of being replaced, since there are usually
tion may disappear. In the meantime, a few organizations members of minority groups who are willing to take jobs
are encouraging women’s support groups, black caucuses, that pay lower wages.
and other ways to help subgroups tie into social and com- As the United States becomes more involved in inter-
munications networks. More importantly, organizations national markets, business managers are becoming aware
are becoming more sensitive to sponsoring social activities that discrimination can make a disastrous impression on
that will allow full participation by all employees. potential buyers and sellers. When one promotes democ-
racy but practices discrimination, one’s credibility is lost.
DISCRIMINATION Establishing oil trade with African countries, for example,
becomes more complex when Africans see the U.S. estab-
Making prejudgments is part of human nature because a lishment discriminating against African Americans.
person cannot anticipate every event freshly in its own
right. Although prejudgments help give order to daily liv-
ing, a person’s mind has a habit of assimilating as much as RACIAL PREJUDICE
it can into categories, which may result in irrational judg- The United States has a history of divisiveness. White set-
ments. A person acts with prejudice because of his or her tlers drove out Native Americans and, in the South, set up

206 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION