What discrimination have you faced in the workplace and what did you do next?

I’ve always felt very strongly about injustices in the world. Even as a young child, seemingly small ones, have always hurt my heart.

I see women being slighted in the workplace every day, and it’s not just women. Companies have been looking at solving the Diversity & Inclusive dilemma for years now, and the needle isn’t moving enough, if at all.

Reports, like those from McKinley, which headline “Progress on gender diversity at work has stalled” even though all the data shows that companies with a better culture that encourages more diversity and inclusiveness make more money, make me want to scream with frustration at the injustice of it all.

The same report went on to share: “Women are doing their part. For more than 30 years, they’ve been earning more bachelor’s degrees than men. They’re asking for promotions and negotiating salaries at the same rates as men. And contrary to conventional wisdom, they are staying in the workforce at the same rate as men.”

So, why is there still so much disparity in the workplace?

I can recall two very clear explicit examples in my career where being female hindered my progress.

In the early 90’s I overheard a conversation where my name had clearly been put into the hat for an (internal) promotion, to then hear that because I was female, and the machinists were male, that they wouldn’t respect a woman in charge so I wasn’t the right fit. And just like that I was discounted, no discussion of my merits, my talents, any solutions to the perceived mentality of the male machinists. It will shock you (not) to hear they hired a male.

While I was on maternity leave (2004), the company I was associated with (without consultation) decided they only wanted ‘high earners’, so to discourage anyone who didn’t fall into that bracket they would take 75% of all commissions unless you wrote over £250,000 per annum. Which put pay to my plans of returning part time, and ultimately to my continuing in that role.

Incidentally, I was the only female adviser at the firm. Not the only parent, but all the male advisers who had children relied on their wives to do the bulk of the childcare. Shifting the expectation that the mother is the main carer and moving towards parental leave, as they do in Iceland will help resolve this as an issue.

What experiences have you been faced with? I’d love to learn of the good, the bad and the ugly if you’re happy to share. Including when you have been championed by colleagues or a company culture, a business owner, or other, as well as when it’s not gone so well. And what did you do next?