According to a recent survey, companies in Illinois and across the country are actively improving the diversity of their workforce. However, the poll also found that the majority of employees report that they have experienced or witnessed some type of discrimination while at work.
The survey, which was conducted by researchers at the job search website Glassdoor, asked workers in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany about their experiences with on-the-job discrimination. It found that U.S. workers reported the most cases of discrimination, with around 60% saying that they had experienced or seen discrimination in their workplace. Specifically, 45% of U.S. workers said they had experienced or seen ageism on the job, 42% said they had experienced or seen gender discrimination or racism and 33% said they had experienced or seen LGBTQ discrimination.
Despite this, over 75% of U.S. workers who participated in the study reported that their employer hired a diverse workforce. The study also found that job listings involving diversity and inclusion increased by 30% on Glassdoor in 2019 compared to 2018. While this is a step in the right direction, the researchers said that their findings indicate that U.S. companies need to do more to reduce discrimination incidents against their workforce.
State and federal laws protect workers from discrimination based on their age, gender, race, religion and more. Employees who believe they have experienced workplace discrimination may benefit from contacting an attorney familiar with employment law about their case. After reviewing the situation, legal counsel might suggest filing a complaint with a state agency or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This may lead to a settlement that covers an employee’s back pay, lost benefits, mental anguish and other related losses.