More than 80 per cent of executives polled have witnessed discrimination
Workplace discrimination is still prevalent in American business, according to a recent survey by TheLadders.com, a New York-based executive job website.
In a poll of 331 executives across the United States, the majority (81 per cent) said they had witnessed discrimination in the workplace, while 77 per cent said discrimination typically comes from the top down and 58 per cent said they have not taken any action against discrimination in the workplace.
Race was the most common type of workplace discrimination (at 42 per cent), followed by gender (38 per cent) and age discrimination (31 per cent). Only nine per cent of respondents said they had witnessed discrimination based on sexual orientation.
When asked about their own encounters with workplace discrimination, 56 per cent said they were discriminated against during the job interview process and an equal number said they had been the victim of discrimination at some point in their careers.
Less than half of respondents (43 per cent) said their companies offered awareness programs about discrimination, however, 35 per cent of respondents called these programs "unfortunately necessary" and 33 per cent said they were useful.
"The best companies to work for are those that regularly examine their practices to make sure that they are promoting diversity and fostering productive culture," Marc Cenedella, CEO and president of TheLadders.com, said in a statement.
In a poll of 331 executives across the United States, the majority (81 per cent) said they had witnessed discrimination in the workplace, while 77 per cent said discrimination typically comes from the top down and 58 per cent said they have not taken any action against discrimination in the workplace.
Race was the most common type of workplace discrimination (at 42 per cent), followed by gender (38 per cent) and age discrimination (31 per cent). Only nine per cent of respondents said they had witnessed discrimination based on sexual orientation.
When asked about their own encounters with workplace discrimination, 56 per cent said they were discriminated against during the job interview process and an equal number said they had been the victim of discrimination at some point in their careers.
Less than half of respondents (43 per cent) said their companies offered awareness programs about discrimination, however, 35 per cent of respondents called these programs "unfortunately necessary" and 33 per cent said they were useful.
"The best companies to work for are those that regularly examine their practices to make sure that they are promoting diversity and fostering productive culture," Marc Cenedella, CEO and president of TheLadders.com, said in a statement.
