Workplace discrimination has been popping up in public conversation again since many people are heading back into the office and back into unhealthy situations. Discrimination and harassment are wrong for everyone involved and can lead to everything ranging from PTSD to companies having to shut their doors for good.
Here are the most significant consequences of workplace discrimination. It’s an epidemic that needs to be put to an end so that all employees can work while feeling respected.
Personal Harm Against Victims
The highest cost of harassment is the cost of human comfort and mental health. People exposed to harassment for extended periods are far more likely to have PTSD, anxiety, and depression when compared to their more respected coworkers. These employees are often forced to choose between working for their company or possibly having to leave to get away from the stress of being disrespected.
This choice isn’t one anyone should have to make.
Legal Consequences Against Businesses
Although one of the higher-ups might not be who committed the discrimination, if nothing was done to stop it or communicate about it: the business could be the one in hot water. Pay attention to how much time and training is put towards fighting against discrimination. If your employees feel safe in discriminating against and mistreating other employees: it’s because your company allowed them to feel that way.
Legal consequences come with financial ones and court fees, to the cost of lawyers, to the price of the settlement if your business loses the case. It’s an expensive mistake for any company.
Lack of Workplace Morale
Even if they weren’t personally discriminated against, employees would lose faith in a business that didn’t do the job of protecting one of its workers. Having a case against the company for discrimination lowers workplace morale and ups the likelihood of the business having a higher turnover rate.
This turnover rate means the business has to pour more time and resources into training, which may cause an endless cycle of hiring and training, only to lose employees when they find out about the company’s reputation. This is an expensive mistake that can make running a business more complicated.
The reputation of Company Being Untrustworthy
Employers who face discrimination cases are far less likely to be applied by job seekers and more likely to get passed on by possible customers.
Possible employees quickly turn down new employers when they realize that the workspace won’t be healthy for them. People want steady employment that they know they can trust and rely upon, and it’s hard to do that when you see a company didn’t protect its past employees.
On the other hand, customers don’t want to give money to a company that treats its employees poorly.
In the last ten years, more consumers have moved towards thoughtful shopping, wanting to be a reasonable consumer who uses their wallet to support certain ideals. Ethical consumerism can crush companies, meaning a bad reputation can force a company to close its doors for good.
