Workplace

Discrimination

SUMAIYYAH ROSHIDI
2015405632
AA700 1BF

Definition of
Discrimination
Discrimination occurs when one person or a

group of people are treated differently

because of a particular trait or characteristics
(Merriam Webster Dictionary)

4 Types of Discrimination
Direct
discriminatio
n

Indirect
discriminatio
n

Harassment

Victimization

DIRECT DISCRIMINATION
Employer treats the employee less favourably

than he treats or would treat others because

they possess a protected characteristic.
Unfair assumptions about what people with
certain personal characteristic can and cannot
do

INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION
Occurs where an employers policies or work

practices are the same for everyone but place

a particular employee or group of employees
at a disadvantage

HARASSMENT
When an employee is exposed to offensive or

intimidating behavior

VICTIMISATION
When you are treated unfairly or put at a

disadvantage because you have tried or taken

action against discrimination
Youre treated unfairly because youve
supported someone else taking action.(for
example: you act as a witness in someone
elses discrimination case.

Protected Characteristics
Race
Gender
Age
Religion
Disability

Racism
Poor treatment of or violence

against people because of

their race @ the belief that
some races of people are
better than others

Issue on racism
Malay graduates have been discriminated against by firms
owned by the local Chinese and foreigners
Utusan Malaysia said the research showed that the race factor

was more important than education qualification in the hiring

process, pointing to the higher callback rate for Chinese versus
Malay graduates. Out of over 3,000 resumes that were sent to
the companies involved, the Malays only have a 4.2 per cent
chance of being called to attend an interview. The Chinese have
a 22.1 per cent chance even though they have the same
qualification and graduated from the same universities as the
Malays, Utusan Malaysia quoted the research paper as saying,
adding that the study involved firms from the accounting, finance
and engineering industry.
(Source : Utusan Malaysia , June 5, 2013)

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has highlighted a job advertisement,

which states that the firm prefers a non-bumiputera for the post of production
engineer. He initially uploaded what is believed to be a doctored version of
the original advertisement on hisTwitteraccount, where it was stated:
"Strictly non-bumiputera would be selected and we encourage them to
apply."Leader Cable Industry Bhd managing director Azhar Ariffin has
apologised for the job advertisement that irked Umno Youth chief Khairy
Jamaluddin.
(Source : MalaysiaKini , 6 Jun, 2014)

Gender discrimination
Unfair treatment of a

person based on his or

her gender

Causes of Gender discrimination

Certain occupations are a mans job or a

womans job.
Physical factor(women are physically weaker
than men, easily abused &discriminated
against men)
Stereotype Feminine & Masculine
characteristics
Pregnancy issue

Issue on Gender Discrimination

When her appointment as a temporary teacher (Guru Sandaran

Tidak Terlatih) was revoked because she was pregnant,

Noorfadilla Ahmad Saikin took the Government to court. This
was not something most people would do, but Noorfadilla felt
strongly that she had been unfairly treated and discriminated
against. It took two years before the case went to court. But in
2011, High Court judge Datuk Zaleha Yusuf ruled in favour of
Noorfadilla, ordering the Government to pay the 33-year-old
RM300,000 in damages for breach of her constitutional right to
gender equality, RM12,907.68 for loss of earnings, RM2,296.10
for loss of EPF (Employees Provident Fund), RM912.71 for loss
of EPF dividends, as well as RM25,000 for pain and suffering,
and RM5,000 in costs.

(Source : The Star, 2 January, 2015)

Age Discrimination
When a person is treated less favorably than

another person in a similar situation because

of their age.
Stereotypes and assumptions about young
people and mature workers can have a big
influence on decisions in the workplace.

Why does this happen?

Not providing training opportunities for young or mature

workers because its not worth it

Not employing mature workers its assumed that they will
soon retire
Rigid & stuck in their ways
Medical issues impact attendance productivity
Afraid of new technologies
Too experienced older people ( demand higher salary)
Physically slow moving, low energy, and unable to sustain
long hours if required.
Years of highly developed opinions; unwillingness to hear
new ideas.

Religious Discrimination
Valuing or treating a

person or group differently

because of what they do or
do not believe.

Religion discrimination may include:

Advertising for job applicants of one religion
only
Requiring you to dress in a certain way
(example: all women need to wear a short
skirt)
Making you work at times that you cannot
work because of your religion

Issues on Religion Discrimination

A Facebook user, who only wanted to be known as Aleen,
said that it was not only in the retail industry does such
discrimination exists.
I studied a media-related course and have been looking for
a job related to what I studied for.
Unfortunately, I was rejected by many companies because
I wear a hijab, which they said will not look good when you
have to dress in corporate clothing, she said, adding that
she was even told by some companies that she might get a
job if she was willing to get rid of the hijab.
(Sources : The Star , 18 September , 2013)

(Resource : Sinar Harian , 7 January, 2014)

Disability Discrimination
Definition : Treating individuals

differently in employment
because of their disability,
perceived disability, or
association with an individual
with a disability.
Negative pre-conceptions and
misperceptions were formed
about PWDs claiming that they
were lazy, dependent on
others and a burden to society

When Ann Khoo worked at her previous

company, her former boss said he hired her

out of pity due to a handicap. Her boss even
told her that shehad to work thrice as hard
for people to believe in her. Also, while others
were invited to attend functions, I was warned
not to attend it because they did not want
guests to shy away.
(Sources : Techniasia , 28 July, 2014)

Whenever that he cannot do, he will pass it over to

me. When deadline is over and the job is not

completed, I will get scolded for not doing the job
well. Initially, I do not know how to go about doing job
at all, but I am learning slowly. ( Malay male,
respondent with hard of hearing)
My salary is a problem because what I receive is not
the same as what normal employees receive even
though we do the same work. (Malay male,
respondent with hearing loss)
Source : (Khoo. Workplace discrimination against
Malaysians with disablities.pp1-16)

Effects of workplace discrimination

High Turnover
Low Morale
Employee Conflict
Decreased Employee Productivity
Financial
Legal trouble

How to prevent?
Treating all employees the same
Management Training
Company policies
When hiring, stick to job requirements
Encourage workers to tell manager about

discrimination

Q&A