Discrimination at work is more denounced.
This is what emerges from the latest barometer from the Defender of Rights and the International Labor Organization.
According to the 13th edition * of this annual survey, three quarters of the working population having been confronted with discrimination, declare to have taken steps following the facts, that is to say a doubling compared to 2013. “
This can reflect a certain catch of conscience
”says Claire Hédon, the new Defender of Rights, in an interview with Les Échos.
But the phenomenon remains large.
“
Four out of ten people witness discrimination,
” she underlines, calling for “
intensifying the fight against discrimination
”.
Read also: Discrimination in the labor market, a scourge that is expensive
A quarter of those questioned do not yet dare to say anything.
Among them, 68% say they fear reprisals, 60% indicate that they did not know what to do and 56% think that it would not have changed anything.
To denounce this discrimination, dialogue with management remains the most common approach (53% of cases), recourse to a lawyer or the initiation of contentious procedures, marginal practices in 2013 (in each case, 8% of people discriminated against in the private sector have used it; 4% and 3% in the public) have become more common (respectively 17% and 14% for the private; 22% and 15% for the public).
The use of staff representatives or a union has also increased sharply (+21 points in the public sector, +15 in the private sector).
Negative consequences on employment
Even if this figure is down by seven points, 23% of people say they have been victims of discrimination (s) or discriminatory harassment in employment, without significant difference according to the sector of activity.
The most frequently mentioned criteria of discrimination are physical appearance (40% of cases), sex (40%) and state of health (30%).
One in four victims declares to have been confronted cumulatively with discrimination, sexist, racist, homophobic remarks and behaviors, linked to religion, disability or state of health, and to forms of depreciation at work.
Almost half of those discriminated against have experienced negative consequences on their employment.
19% were dismissed or not renewed after the fact and 14% received a warning or a reprimand, or were transferred against their will.
Almost half of them cite a feeling of fatigue, sadness or a deterioration in the state of health.
“
Discrimination at work does not only have consequences on professional life
,” warns Claire Hédon.
“
It goes way beyond
”.
The defender of rights recalls that "
the employer has an obligation of reinforced means to protect the health and safety of his employees
".
*
The survey was conducted by telephone from February 6 to May 14, 2020 by the BVA institute on two representative samples of 590 employees and 500 civil servants, formed according to the quota method.
