74% of female employees experience discrimination at work

New research released by the UKís largest employment law firm Peninsula has found that nearly 8 in 10 female employees believe that favouritism towards men is still rife in the workplace when promotion is on the cards, with 74% of those polled experiencing discrimination first hand whilst at work.

Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula, today commented; ìSome of the record tribunal payouts are to sexual discrimination cases. Iím amazed that in todayís society discrimination amongst any minority, religion or belief still occurs. Company bosses are the first form of prevention when it comes to preventing sexual discrimination. All workers should be treated equally, whether at the job interview or on the job.î

Mr Done continues; ìIn a society where discrimination is not supposed to exist it is clear that female workers still feel that discrimination is still rife in the workplace. 74% of the women who we polled truly have experienced sexual discrimination at work and situations such as these needs to be taken seriously. If female workers feel that they are being discriminated they should approach their employer and explain how they feel.î

ìEmployers need to ensure they have an equal opportunities policy in place and that it is communicated to all staff and management. In todayís society it is quite difficult to comprehend that such discrimination continues but it seems obvious that it does. Tribunal cases for sexual discrimination see record awards being given and itís not just the financial penalties imposed but the reputation of both the employer and the firm in hand.î

ìWorkers should not be passed over for promotion because they are women, they should be encouraged to seek career prospects where the opportunity arises, their merits should be taken into consideration and whether they are male or female should not determine the outcome of whether they are right for the job. If you feel as though you are being discriminated, then in the first instance immediately speak to your employer who will then hopefully address the situation in a world of equal rights the very though of women being discriminated against is both shocking and undeserving,î concludes Peter Done.