Topic:
You are a human resources executive. Your boss has observed that unfair treatments based on
one’s gender become more prevalent in your workplace. He has asked you to write an article
for the company newsletter describing the situation and discussing the negative effects. You
have also been asked to give two suggestions to improve the situation. Provide a suitable title
for your article.
In recent years, there has been much concern about the longstanding discrimination on one’s gender in workplace, especially targets on female employees. Our yearly mental health report has unveiled a staggering situation that there are gender discrimination happened among colleagues in our everyday workplace. Facing this frustrating situation, claiming the issue is in serious disarray and so choosing to sidestep is an inappropriate act. We will only suffer in the long run if we sidestep this issue as there will be more negative effects and so the situation will only get worse. It is time to show our unity to remedy the situation.
Recently, there should be no reason for any type of discrimination happened, not only because they are socially disapproved, but also against our universal value and human rights. Unfortunately, sexism shaped our community becoming male-dominanted and has a far-reaching impact on the workplace’s culture. Therefore, workplaces always fulfill preconceptions that male have better working ability than females and thus male easily get promoted to senior positions. Besides, female colleagues were given less demanding assignments and received less support from supervisors. Some are even attacked by frequent and severe usage of derogatory terms. Other than affecting our colleagues’ mental health, in no way should we overlook some negative impacts brought.
Gender discrimination will invariably result in brain drain and decline in competitiveness. Brain drain is not something to be taken lightly. The most important capital in a company must be talent. For females, the work given could not show their true working ability and they could not get a sense of satisfaction from the job. Compared with the male colleagues with the same education level, the chances for female talent to be promoted was lower as they were not given opportunities to show their talent and their opinions were not taken seriously. Under an unfair working environment, the talent would probably feel disappointed with the company. Female talents have no other way but to resign. The ripple effect of brain drain is decline in competitiveness . Each employee has their own uniqueness and the position suits them. Brain drain will reduce creativity and the possibility of the company. This reduces the competitiveness of the company.
What is worthy of our attention is the worsening of mental health I have mentioned in the beginning. It is irrational to distribute work to employees regardless of their credentials and relevant working experience, however, based on their gender. We can easily link the gender discrimination to the depression. When one could not get fair treatment during communication with other colleagues and their heads, they would feel depressed. For example , the head attaches no importance to female employees’ advice, the female employees would doubt their own ability and feel isolated in the workplace. One being excluded will definitely lead to the erosion of confidence. Regardless of gender, if anyone has no confidence in themselves, the quality of work will be affected negatively. It will only be locked in a vicious cycle. This leads to anxiety and depression and is detrimental to mental health.
To maximize human resources and create a pleasant working environment, undoubtedly, gender discrimination in our workplace must come under fire. It is understandable that our employees may not know how to improve this current situation. Hence, concerted efforts could be made by employees and different departments.
To commerce with, we, as the human resources department, would first hold a training scheme for employees. In the scheme, the way how to handle the gender discrimination and building up sense of identity will be taught and promoted. The employee could participate the training scheme and know how to determine whether the situation is gender discrimination or not and the way to deal with the situation. Besides, we would set up a system of punishment for those employees who discriminate against others based on gender. Meanwhile, creating a discrimination- free environment is everyone’s business.
Besides the efforts made by the human resource department and employees, the department heads should abandon their preconception first before making any comment on female employees. The department heads are also encouraged to know each employee in the department so the heads of departments would follow their uniqueness to distribute work but not according to their gender. The head should use a more transparent standard to consider the choice of senior promotion. Instead of setting a bad precedent for gender discrimination using any mean, the head should step up efforts to contain the problem.
Holding gender discrimination in check is the only way-out for us to create a pleasant working environment and discrimination-free company culture. Let’s take action and support the scheme, and stop this cruel situation from happening again. It is earnestly hoped that we could join hands to work for the betterment of the company and contribute toward the future of the company regardless of gender, nationality, religion and so on. It is time to show our unity!