Workforce Language Services

Creating and maintaining a welcoming and positive working environment is often underestimated.  The following article
points to the many reasons employers should prioritize fairness in the workplace, both institutionally and at the micro-level, in the everyday interactions among staff.  HR departments go to great lengths to increase diversity among staff, but this does not do much good if employees do not feel welcome at work.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A new study reveals that workplace unfairness costs U.S. employers an estimated $64 billion per year in turnover of managers and professionals, in addition to costs from decreased sales of products and services and damaged employer reputation.

“The Corporate Leavers Survey,” conducted by the Level Playing Field Institute and sponsored by Korn/Ferry International, finds that each year more than two million professionals and managers leave their corporate employers due solely to workplace unfairness. According to the survey, people of color are three times more likely and gays and lesbians are twice as likely as heterosexual Caucasian males to have left their jobs due solely to workplace unfairness.

“The study highlights that unfairness in the form of everyday inappropriate behaviors is a very real, prevalent and damaging part of today’s work environment,” said Freada Kapor Klein, Ph.D., founder and board chair of the Level Playing Field Institute. “The cumulative impact of stereotyping, subtle slights and being excluded is extraordinarily costly for individuals, employers and the society as a whole. It is sadly ironic that so much money is spent on recruiting and so little attention is devoted to creating a fair and welcoming work environment. Many companies become revolving doors for people of color, gays and lesbians and women.”