answer the following business ethics question
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14-DivandDisc.pdf
EVALUATION & FEEDBACK
• 1. INTRODUCTION • 2. DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION • 3. REMINDER- PROJECT • 4. HOMEWORK
PLAN FOR TODAY
DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION
A FEW FACTS
A FEW FACTS
Today’s workforce is becoming increasingly diverse.
Numbers in the U.S. suggest that the workforce is getting older, is more ethnically diverse and composed of more women.
These changes are putting pressure on businesses to adapt their style and meet the needs of the workforce.
A FEW FACTS
Women represent almost half of the labor force these days and it is the first time in history that white male do not represent the majority of the workforce since 1970s.
They have made significant gains in many professional careers between 1970 and 1990;
• Women physicians more than doubled ; 7,6% to 16,9% • Women lawyers and judges increased from 5,8% to 22,7% • Women in engineering increased from 1,3% to 8%
A FEW FACTS
However, women remain clustered in lower-paid and lower- status jobs, are relatively absent from higher-paying management positions and continue to be paid lower wages than men;
• Women get 77 cents to a man’s dollar
‘’Women with full-time jobs still earn only about 77 percent of their male counterparts’ earnings.’’
— Institute for Women’s Policy Research
A FEW FACTS
A FEW FACTS
In private industry, white men hold 65% of managerial positions compared to ;
• 25% for White women • 6,5% for Minority men • Less than 4% for Minority women
A FEW FACTS
In 1940, black men earned on average 40 cents for every dollar earned by white men.
By 1990, black men’s wages climbed to about 75% of white men’s and to 76% by 1996.
The unemployment rate of black men remains 2x that of white men.
A FEW FACTS
A FEW FACTS
Even if the workforce is diversifying, it has not yet translated into increased diversity when it comes to;
• Positions of authority • Equal wages and benefits • Positions of power and prestige
A FEW FACTS
Despite decades of legal and political initiatives to bring equal opportunities to women and minorities in the workplace and in society, significant economic and social inequalities remain in the wider society.
Businesses are a prime resources for addressing these inequalities.
BENEFITS FROM DIVERSITY- EXPLAINED
DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION
Positive consequences for businesses
• Diverse perspectives • Creativity and innovation • Attract and retain top talent • Better customer service ( also increasingly diverse) • Employee engagement • Build the business’ reputation
DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION
Challenges for businesses
• Prejudices : preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
• Discrimination: unjust treatment of different categories of people or things
DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION
Do businesses have any responsibilities in promoting a
diverse workforce?
DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION
Federal Regulations
• The Employment Equity Act • The Charter of Rights and
Freedom
Provincial Regulations
• Quebec Equity Act • Ontario Human Rights Code
In Canada there is a legal framework to make sure that business promote and support a diverse workforce;
DIVERSITY AND DISCRIMINATION
Additionally, businesses are encouraged to promote diversity with the help of affirmative actions;
Affirmative Actions;
‘’An active effort to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups and women sought to achieve a multicultural staff through affirmative action.’’
Merriam-Webster online
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
It is broad and can take many forms;
• unwelcome sexual comments, jokes or gestures • being touched in a sexual way • being shown sexual pictures without consent • being forced to do a sexual act
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Harvey Weinstein has been accused of sexual harassment by more than 100 women recently.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Donald Trump has been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault by at least 15 women.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
The Artistic director of Vancouver arts school stepped down after sexual harassment allegation surfaces a few weeks ago
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
The top executive at McDonald stepped down for his “poor judgment” in violating the company's code of conduct – he had to resign because of his relationship with an
employee
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
3 key elements define sexual harassment in the workplace: a. Conduct of a sexual nature which is gender based b. Conduct that is unwelcome c. Conduct that affects the work environment
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
A. Conduct of a sexual nature which is gender based
i.e. Offensive behaviour can be physical or verbal
(i.e. overt sexual solicitation) or the behaviour occurs because of the gender (i.e. an offensive joke does not refer to sex, but the joke is played to embarrass the person because she is a woman).
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
B. Conduct that is unwelcome
• If a pattern of behavior persists and demoralizes, humiliates and or obstruct an healthy working relationship
• If a person expresses objection over a behaviour
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
C. Conduct that affects the work environment
Sexual harassment is any sexually-oriented practice that;
• Endangers an individual’s continued employment • Negatively affects his/her work performance • Undermines their sense of personal dignity
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
In Canada, it is regulated under the Canadian labour Code, in the USA, it is regulated under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
‘’Although the law doesn’t prohibit simple teasing, offhand comments, or isolated incidents that are not very serious, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment or when it results in an adverse employment decision (such as the victim being fired or demoted).’’
USA Civil Rights Act
SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
WHAT TO DO IF YOU'RE BEING HARASSED?
Harassment is a serious concern and should not be ignored;
• Speaking out and making it clear that you do not approve of what is happening
• Telling your supervisor or someone higher up about your concern and asking them to help
• Follow your employers’ procedures set out in their harassment policy
• Prepare and keep a detailed record of the incident • Consider filing a human rights complaint
CONCLUSION
• Today’s workforce is becoming increasingly diverse, businesses need to adapt their style to meet the needs of the workforce and capture the opportunities that can result from it.
• Affirmative actions are used to improve the employment or educational opportunities of members of minority groups
CONCLUSION
• Sexual harassment is a serious concern and should not be ignored. It is heavily regulated in Canada and the USA
• The #MeToo movement is gaining increasing public attention with recent high profile scandals
• The existing culture of discrimination on the workplace needs to be addressed and severely criticized
HOMEWORK
Answer the questions:
1) Define sexual harassment. What form of gestures or actions can be considered sexual harassment in the workplace? Provide 2 examples.
2) Define affirmative actions? Explain how it can be applied in the workplace? Provide one example.
3) Why do business have a role to play in addressing discrimination and inequalities in the workplace? How can they address these issues? Provide 2 examples to support your answer
Read Chapter 11
Review all the resources on C4
