Activity 1: Stereotypes

What is it?
Can you think of other examples? What groups are treated unfairly because of negative stereotypes?

Stereotypes are traits and characteristics, valenced and attributed to a social group and to its
individual members. The use of stereotypes is a major way in which we simplify our social world;
since they reduce the amount of processing (i.e. thinking) we have to do when we meet a new
person. By stereotyping we infer that a person has a whole range of characteristics and abilities that
we assume all members of that group have. Stereotypes lead to social categorization, which is one of
the reasons for prejudice attitudes.

Stereotypes of aging include assumptions and generalizations about how people at or over a certain
age should behave, and what they are likely to experience, without regard for individual differences
or unique circumstances. For example, someone holding prejudiced attitudes toward older adults,
may believe that older adults are slow and incompetent. Other examples of groups treated unfairly
include races, cultures or ethnic groups.

Activity 2

How do you discourage discrimination?

Discrimination simply means treating a person unfairly and illustrating prejudice. Many types of
workplace discrimination leave employees feeling unsafe, threatened, uncomfortable, and
prejudiced against at work. These tips will help prevent discrimination in the workplace.

Training

It is imperative to educate all employees on all forms of discrimination and the adverse effects it
could have on them personally and on the company collectively. A company should construct an
employee handbook that establishes expectations and defines discrimination. The employer should
also warn of the potential disciplinary actions that could result in participating in discriminatory
practices.

Complaint Policy and Procedure

If an employee thinks they have experienced discrimination, they should feel comfortable reporting
the discriminatory activity. Many times after experiencing harsh discrimination, especially by a
supervisor, an employee feels intimidated and fears they will be retaliated against or fired for
reporting it.

Employers should educate employees on how to submit a complaint and encourage an open-door
policy without the fear of adverse consequences.

Communicate with Your Employees

Another good practice to prevent workplace discrimination is to communicate with your employees
consistently. It is helpful to gain feedback on their experience on the job and if they have
experienced discrimination firsthand or witnessed it on the job. Welcoming on-going communication
will help your employees feel more comfortable relaying their concerns.

Stay Pro-Active

To prevent discrimination in your workplace, stay pro-active in company-wide education on

diversity, and establish an approachable workplace environment. Discrimination, in its worst form,
can have a detrimental impact on an employee and the company as a whole.

Activity 3
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO): WA (from topic 2 resources) share your highlight from
browsing through the website

Equal opportunity in the workplace plays a key part in protecting human rights. Equal employment
opportunity (EEO) means that all employees have the right to be treated equally in all aspects of
their jobs. Equal employment opportunity should be available in all areas of employment including
recruitment, job allocation, promotion and access to all benefits and opportunities.

Current laws make it illegal for employer to discriminate on the grounds such as sex, race, religion,
marital status, pregnancy, sexual preference or parental status. The purpose of EEO regulations is to
make sure nobody will face rejection or difficulties because they’re in a protected group. Advantages
of equal employment opportunity can be discussed as follows:

 When equality in the workplace is present, all individuals have the same chance to go after
opportunities and develop their skills. Employers are able to see how driven each employee
is and what his motivations are. This proves important when selecting leaders and managing
the general workforce.
 When there's workplace equality means that employees might be able to contribute to the
company in different ways over time, capitalizing on everyone's talents and abilities.
 When a company is able to achieve and maintain workplace equality, lawsuits due to
violations of these regulations is less likely, although not always entirely preventable.
 Companies who follow workplace equality philosophies and implement regulations to
uphold these philosophies are able to show their beliefs and compliance to the public. This
may improve the reputation of the company, which could translate to more sales.

One disadvantage of equality in the workplace is that it doesn't come without effort. Many people
suffer from some level of stereotyping about those with different genders, races, sexual orientations
or nationalities. It often takes conscious effort to see past that and judge individuals fairly.