(ThyBlackMan.com) Reading the media and the news lately, you might think that discrimination and prejudice are completely black & white or rather white on black. It seems that if there is a story about discrimination, it is always about racism towards black people. The reason for this is quite simple. White on black discrimination is significantly more common compared to other acts of prejudice. However, it’s fair to say that there are plenty of other groups that face discrimination, particularly in the workplace. Women have struggled to get jobs due to their gender. Other ethnic minorities have failed to get promotions and job positions, in some cases due to their perceived beliefs. So, to say discrimination in America today is just a problem that blacks are facing would be a lie. It’s an issue that we all have to deal with, and it’s the business owners who need to start changing things right now.
Discrimination Against Ethnic Minorities
A recent article discussed the political and social relevance of the musical Hamilton. The stage show has been a hit all over the world, 
particularly across America. Tickets have sold for thousands online and later this years a new version of the show will open across the waters in the UK. It is a show that, many have claimed celebrates the idea of immigration. The idea that one of the founding fathers rose from nothing to create the world we live in today is powerful. It suggests as it should that America should be embracing immigration because these are the people who made it great. Yet, immigration lawyers maintain that the law hs it stands is actually biased against migrant workers. It’s not just the USA that is facing this problem either. One immigration lawyer recently suggested that the effect of Brexit on EU citizens would be catastrophic. So, to deal with this form of discrimination it’s time we stopped seeing immigrant as a dirty word. Business owners need to embrace the fresh ideas that immigrants can bring to their business.
Women In The Workplace
We still have a problem with a gender pay gap in America. It’s estimated that the pay gap in America is just over twenty percent. Although if some Hollywood stars are to be believed it could be significantly higher than that. Of course, pay isn’t the only issue that American women face in the workplace. While there are strict laws in place to protect women seeking maternity leave some are still discriminated against. Usually, while the leave of absence is granted, the women are denied promotions once they eventually return. Instead, they hit that never moving glass ceiling. You can look at this from two perspectives. For business owners, it doesn’t make sense to invest time and money into individuals who are going to be spending less time in the office. At the same time, though, not all new mothers lower their workload. Thus it is unfair for them to be judged or treated in this way. You can see the correct legal obligations of a business owner in a employers maternity leave guide. Needless to say many business owners are not living up to these standards.
Office Racism
Over the past few years, there have been several widely reported cases of office racism or discrimination in business. Indeed, it’s fair to say that many black Americans may feel that they are not treated as fairly as white workers. But at the same time, there is evidence of black on white racism in the business world too. Just last year the black lives matter movement aimed to block white-owned businesses on Black Friday. Their aim was to push customers towards companies owned by people of colour and women. When asked about this movement the leader claimed that white working class men were encouraged to take part. He was not willing to write them off as racist. The implication being here that all middle class and upper-class white business owners are. Racism is always going to be a two-way street. Although there is certainly more traffic heading in one direction.
The fact is though that diversity in the workplace should actually be embraced by business owners. Businesses that are diverse and do not discriminate against gender, race, or belief or forty percent more likely to succeed on the market. As well as this, it has been revealed that the most successful businesses on the market today are more likely to have a diverse board of leaders. Perhaps if business owners knew that discrimination could be hindering their profit margins, they would take more steps to prevent it. Or at the very least, stop ignoring it and stop pretending it is not a severe and widespread issue.
Staff Writer; Karl Thomas
