LANGUAGE & INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION
Language used in company verbiage, including, but not limited to, employee interactions, job descriptions, interviews and company literature. In order to promote equality, it is important that all these things are evaluated on a regular basis to be inclusive
RECRUITMENT & HIRING
Recruitment and hiring sets the initial tone of your business, as far as what others perceive, and also what unconscious biases are shown through job descriptions, candidate screening, interviews and more. The articles below highlight different examples and things to be aware of throughout these processes, to ensure an equal playing field from beginning to end
BEING PROACTIVE
AS AN EMPLOYER, IT IS VITAL THAT YOU ARE PROACTIVE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION, TO ENSURE THAT STANDARDS ARE CLEARLY LAID OUT, REVISITED, AND ENFORCED. THIS ELIMINATES ANY CONFUSION, AND PROMOTES A MORE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL, BY NOT ALLOWING NEGATIVE SITUATIONS INCLUDING HARRASSMENT TO OCCUR.
​
EXAMPLES OF TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION CAN INCLUDE:
-
AGE
-
GENDER
-
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
-
ETHNICITY
-
SKIN COLOR
-
NATIONAL ORIGIN
-
MENTAL/PHYSICAL DISABILITY
-
GENETIC INFORMATION
-
RELATIONSHIP TO SOMEONE WHO MAY BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST
-
PREGNANCY/PARENTHOOD
PREVENTING
DISCRIMINATION
TO PREVENT DISCRIMINATION AND HARRASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE, STRATUS.HR HAS LAID OUT A FEW IMPORTANT STEPS TO HELP EMPLOYERS:
​
-
SET A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
-
TRAIN MANAGERS AND STAFF ABOUT THE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
-
CREATE A COMPLAINT PROCESS
-
INVESTIGATE IMMEDIATELY
-
PROVIDE DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR VIOLATORS
-
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING
FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE LAWS ENFORCED BY THE U.S. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO OFFER ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOYEES WHO NEED IT, AND ALSO SET UP YOUR ORGANIZATION TO FOLLOW ALL THE GUIDELINES AS A FURTHER STEP TO BE INCUSIVE AND EQUALITY MINDED
powerful actions to prevent verbal harassment
-
Assume that slurs are occurring
-
Kill any "freedom of speech" assumption
-
Set a zero-tolerance level
-
Begin education during onboarding
-
Focus your education and training
-
Provide a list of sensitive topic areas to avoid
-
Make it easy to get guidance
-
Conduct civility surveys
-
Start at the top
-
Utilize post-exit interviews
-
Identify and focus on the least powerful
-
Conduct periodic language searches
-
Utilize superknower employees
-
Identify the jokers
-
Make customers aware/utilize mystery shoppers (if applicable)
-
Make it part of performance appraisal
-
Low morale may be an indicator of harassing language
-
Encourage employees to improve their documentation