Gender, age, ethnic background, sexual orientation, religion, family life and private matters do play an important part at work although they should not. Recruitment processes, salaries, the daily routine at the work office, are all places where workers should be considered equals but are in fact treated differently. Being paid less for a similar job, not being offered an interview while having the exact same profile as a successful candidate, are well-known and widespread discriminations mainly faced by women, ethnic minorities, disabled people, young or senior workers. Should we all be treated equally in order to stop discrimination at work?
[...] But beware, equal treatment should not be applied consistently without thinking. For example an employer who refuses maternity leave to his female employees on the pretext that "it treats all employees equally "and that his male employees did not need such leave will quickly make the lesson, hopefully, on the evolution of "equality". The law in the United Kingdom allows positive action ( not affirmative action Criteria of ethnic origin or religion may be elements of choice in recruitment. Companies may give preference to candidates from visible minorities, but only equally qualified. [...]
[...] The fight against discrimination is a major challenge for the European Union. Therefore, it takes all necessary measures to combat it, especially regarding employment and the labor market. However, many cases of discrimination can be found on the labor markets and labor. Article 13 of the EC Treaty, provides specific powers to the Community to combat discrimination based on sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Member States shall prohibit discrimination in employment and occupation. [...]
[...] But the law prohibits this distinction, because men and women should be treated in the same way. If the employer is guilty of discrimination, even indirectly, he might be subjected to fines and prison sentences. The Assimilation model (versus integration anglo-saxon model) denies our differences and includes the individuals within secular republican values. As a result, ethnic statistics are not allowed and though discrimination and inequalities are widespread, there is no way to actually grasp the extent of the phenomenon. [...]
[...] Is the assimilation model worth protecting? Looking at the debate recently launched by the government on national identity, there is much to fear that discrimination will go on at work and in the society at large. Reasons differentiation The Positive Action ( Affirmative Action ) : if one can't prevent the human being from discriminating the Other, one can have recruiters, schools, business executives, political parties to respect quotas, salary scales and actions in favor of the minorities. Giving more to those who had less: the idea is basically to reduce the gap and thus reach a fair compromise. [...]
[...] Is positive action the very symbol of a failure to bring discrimination down? Did we arrive to the point where a Black person, although incompetent could be preferred to a white competent person, which would undermine the principle of meritocracy? To conclude, we can say it is still preferable to follow the model of assimilation and equal treatment of workers, rather than adopting a system of positive action, criticized in England or affirmative discrimination, which ultimately failed in America. Indicative bibliography - Discrimination at Work: The Psychological and Organizational Bases de Robert Dipboye et Adrienne Colella (2004) - Challenging Race Discrimination at Work de Karon Monaghan (2000) - Race, Gender, and the Labor Market: Inequalities at Work de Robert L. [...]
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