Workplace Discrimination

Age is the largest determinant of whether a person is likely to be ill-treated in the workplace, according to new research from MORI. The survey — Diversity Matters — conducted for The Guardian and TMP Worldwide, shows nearly a quarter (23%) of British employees claim to have fallen victim to discrimination, bullying or harassment at work. This rises to 37% of older workers (over 55s). Ill treatment because of age is higher than that due to gender, race or sexuality, and is marginally higher than that because of disability.

Age is the largest determinant of whether a person is likely to be ill-treated in the workplace, according to new research from MORI. The survey -- Diversity Matters -- conducted for The Guardian and TMP Worldwide, shows nearly a quarter (23%) of British employees claim to have fallen victim to discrimination, bullying or harassment at work. This rises to 37% of older workers (over 55s). Ill treatment because of age is higher than that due to gender, race or sexuality, and is marginally higher than that because of disability.

A third of employees (32% -- which translates to around nine million people) believe that discrimination exists in their workplace. The project also shows that people who perceive discrimination to exist in their workplace are less satisfied with virtually all aspects of their working lives, compared to those who perceive their organisation to be non-discriminatory.

The research also strongly indicates that, leaving aside the moral or ethical arguments in its favour, diversity is something worth striving for, as employees in culturally diverse workplaces rate their working lives more highly. They are more satisfied, more secure and more likely to 'talk up' their employer. However, only two in five workers (42%) think their organisation makes the most of its staff's diversity.

Technical details

MORI adopted a two-stage research approach during July and August 2003. Firstly, extensive qualitative research (18 mini-groups and 16 depth interviews) was conducted with a diverse array of respondents.

The quantitative element of the survey was based on five waves of the MORI face-to-face Omnibus, where 4,605 sampled individuals in work or looking for work were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire on discrimination and 1,525 replied. In addition, MORI undertook 279 booster telephone interviews with middle class (ABC1) people who were either from an ethnic minority, lesbian/gay/bisexual or who had a disability. Data have been weighted to the known profile of the working population.

Topline Results

13 October 2003

  • 1,804 Adults aged 18-64
  • Self-completion questionnaire with top-up telephone interviews among minority groups
  • Data weighted to the uk working population
  • Fieldwork 26 June-20 August 2003
  • An asterisk indicates a percentage less than 0.5% But greater than zero
  • Base "all" unless otherwise stated

Q1 What type of organisation do you work for (if unemployed, please answer for your most recent employment)?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Privately owned company45
Public sector organisation29
Educational establishment9
Self-employed5
Charity/voluntary organisation3
Other3
Co-operative1
Not stated5

Q2 What area of business is your organisation involved in (if unemployed, please answer for your most recent employment)?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Retail/distribution13
Education12
Health sector/medicine10
Manufacturing6
Building and construction/architecture/planning5
Civil service/local government5
Hotel/catering5
Transport5
Engineering4
Finance/banking4
Social services/welfare3
Media/publishing/printing2
Armed forces/police/prison service2
Charity/voluntary2
Agriculture/forestry/fishing1
Art/design/fashion1
Computing/IT1
Housing1
Law1
Pharmaceuticals1
Telecommunications1
Utilities1
Performing Arts*
Other11
Not stated1

Q3 How long have you worked for your current employer?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Up to 1 year18
Between 1 and 2 years14
Between 2 and 5 years21
Between 5 and 10 years16
Between 10 and 15 years9
More than 15 years15
Currently unemployed6
Not stated2

Q4 Here are a number of things that people have said about their employer. Thinking about your experiences at your current (most recent) employer, please mark the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of the following:

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't know / No opinionNot stated
 %%%%%%%
Morale is good in my organisation13359241413
If asked by a friend, I would recommend my current employer as a place to work183810161313
I think it is safe to speak up and challenge the way things are done in my organisation20399161113
I believe that my organisation is an equal opportunities employer354285514
The workforce at my organisation is culturally diverse20361413764
My organisation tries to help employees balance work and home life183116161333
I intend looking for a new job if the market improves162015172274
I feel that stress at work is affecting my personal life112315262123

Q5 Below is a list of things that any job may offer. Please indicate how satisfied or dissatisfied you are with each of these factors in your current (most recent) job?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 Very satisfiedFairly satisfiedNeither satisfied nor dissatisfiedFairly dissatisfiedVery dissatisfiedDon't know / No opinionNot stated
 %%%%%%%
Pay9518181112
Benefits package (e.g. pensions)113916121093
Interesting work25411111614
Adequate resources to do your job15431119913
Receiving sufficient training18411514723
Career opportunities103221171343
Feeling that you are part of a team25441012622
Managerial support183413161322
Job security22401311922
Making the best use of your skills and ability19401316912
Opportunity to show initiative24381413712
Receiving praise for good work203514151412
Actual hours worked17461213923
Flexible working practices (e.g. working from home, flexible hours)1625221212103
Equality of opportunity1938199662

Q6a Does your current (most recent) employer have formal equal opportunities and diversity policies?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 Equal opportunitiesDiversity
 %%
Yes5334
I think so1516
No1012
Don't know1930
Not stated38

Q6b (If YES) have you read it?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Equal opportunities28
Diversity17

Q7 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about equal opportunities and diversity policies in the workplace:

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't know / No opinionNot stated
 %%%%%%%
Thinking about equal opportunity policies ...
they are unfair to non-minority groups616192918102
they are difficult to implement52818261093
they are necessary to ensure equality for everyone2642137363
people below managerial level do not take any notice of them52721269102
people at managerial level do not take any notice of them515203313112
I believe ...
that my organisation values diversity173617103134
my immediate manager values diversity183218105144
that my colleagues value diversity143620123124
that my employer makes the most of the diversity of its workforce123020166134
that my employer focuses too much on diversity in the workforce38273112144

Q8 To what extent do you agree, or disagree, that at your current (most recent) organisation the following are fair and based on merit?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 Strongly agreeTend to agreeNeither agree nor disagreeTend to disagreeStrongly disagreeDon't know / No opinionNot stated
 %%%%%%%
Recruitment of new people20441113553
Promotion and progression143115211063
Training and development16401515743
Pay and perks103118201363

Q9 From what you have seen, which three of the following are the most important for people to have/do in order to get on in your current (most recent) organisation?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Be very good at their job47
Be flexible/adaptable45
Be prepared to work long hours27
Be efficient26
Be the best person for the job24
Be totally committed to the company19
Know the right people17
Toe the line15
Face must fit16
Suck up to the boss11
Have a high profile10
Be assertive10
Socialise with the right people8
Have been at the organisation for a long time8
Have high academic qualifications6
Dress smartly6
Be loud4
Compromise cultural/religious beliefs to be like everyone else4
Be young3
Dress conservatively2
Be white1
Be middle class1
Dress fashionably1
Not stated3

Q10 In the past 12 months, do you feel that you have been bullied, harassed or discriminated against by anyone in your current (most recent) organisation as a result of any the following? a) bullied or harassed b) discriminated against

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 a) bullied or harassedb) discriminated against
 %%
Your age36
Your qualification level24
Your gender33
Flexible working e.g. job share, part time, working from home23
Domestic responsibilities, e.g. family commitments43
Your sexuality22
Your disability12
Educational background22
Your accent22
Your physical appearance22
Your race/ethnicity11
Your religion11
Your class11
Language difficulties*1
The clothes you wear21
Trade union membership11
Other21
None of these5653
Not stated3032
Any reason1516

Q10c (If YES) Can you please describe your experience? What happened and why you think it happened to you?

Base:(426)

 %
Ageism6
Lack of understanding when have personal/home problems6
Employers threatened by my knowledge/experience/jealousy5
Shouted/sworn at/bullied in front of other people5
My accent/the way I speak3
Ethnicity/race3
Gender3
No support/help during/after illness3
Sexual harassment2
Not given same responsibilities/chances/perks as I'm part time2
Don't understand/respect family commitments2
Sexuality2
The way I dress/look/overweight appearance2
Discriminated due to disability1
Other21
Not stated41

Q11 Which of the following apply to your current (most recent) job?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 YesNoDon't knowNot stated
 %%%%
There is a formal complaints procedure in place at my organisation6713164
I would feel able to report the situation without worrying that this would have a negative impact on my job/career5628133

Q12 If you felt that you were being bullied, harassed or discriminated against, who would you turn to for help and advice?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
My manager/supervisor59
Another manager in the organisation20
HR department18
Friends at work41
Friends/family outside of work41
The Union/worker organisation30
Citizens Advice Bureau21
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)10
Equal Opportunities Commission9
Commission for Racial Equality6
Disability Rights Commission4
Other5
Don't know3
Not stated3

Q13a Have you ever made a formal complaint about discrimination?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Yes8
No90
Not stated2

Q13b (If YES) How do you feel about the outcome?

Base: 136

 %
Very satisfied10
Fairly satisfied11
Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied9
Fairly satisfied11
Very satisfied38
Outcome not yet decided2
Don't know13
Not stated6

Q14a Do you believe that discrimination exists at your workplace?

 %
Yes32
No48
Unsure/Don't know19
Not stated3

Q14b If yes, where does this discrimination come from?

Base: 605

 %
People who work for me8
Peers/colleagues at my level39
Line manager/people I report to46
Senior management55
Not stated9

Q14c If yes, do you think the managers in your organisation know this discrimination exists?

Base: 605

 %
Yes, line managers55
Yes, senior management53
No22
Not stated7

Q15 Which of the following do you think your current (most recent) organisation should do to prevent discrimination at your workplace?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Communicate to everyone that discrimination is unacceptable58
Come down hard on people who are found to discriminate48
Train all staff in this area47
Train managers in this area41
Promote a formal policy internally38
Ensure a diverse workforce at all levels31
Provide an independent helpline30
Nothing/no action required10
Other2
Don't know7
Not stated4

Q16 Which one of the following statements comes closest to describing the level you aspire to reach in your career?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
I have no aspirations to progress my career22
Supervisor level10
Management level12
Senior manager level9
Company director level3
Managing director or chief executive officer2
Have my own business10
Achieve professional status8
Not relevant to my industry/organisation15
Don't know7
Not stated2

Q17 What five, if any, of the following are the most important factors when choosing a job to apply for?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Good level of pay79
What the job involves day-to day50
Easy to get to/close to home42
Job security41
Career prospects40
The hours40
Secure/stable organisation28
Training prospects27
Good perks/benefits21
Reputation of organisation18
Family friendly policies16
A good chance of getting the job14
Flexitime14
Equal opportunities policy11
Well known organisation8
Ethical stance of organisation6
Opportunities to travel5
Small company5
Large company4
Environmental record of organisation4
Knew/know somebody who works for the organisation4
Industrial relations record3
Takes into account cultural/religious beliefs3
Has disability access facilities3
Not stated3

Q18 Were you to look for a new job in the near future, which of the following sources of information do you think you would use, and which have you found useful in the past? Where did you find out about your current/last job?

 a) would useb) have found useful in the pastc) found out about current/last job
 %%%
Local newspapers725221
Family/friends473219
Job centre46297
National newspapers43247
Trade magazines/specialist press35196
Company web sites29133
Recruitment/job fairs2092
Library156*
Company brochures1562
Recruitment agencies34208
Networking/colleagues/work contacts34199
Head-hunters932
Community organisations821
Minority press e.g. Asian Times, Diversity Today, The Voice72*
Minority web-sites e.g. Asian online, Disabilitynow.org, The Voice Online61*
None of these227
Don't know / Can't remember*12
Not stated41418

Q19 How often do you read job adverts?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Always25
Occasionally47
Only when job hunting19
Never8
Not stated1

Q20 When looking at job advertisements, which five of the following are most important to you?

 %
Pay/Salary88
Location74
Job description/responsibilities68
Job hours51
Qualifications required41
Career prospects31
Benefits23
Personal qualities required19
Job title16
Holiday entitlement16
Training and development details14
Pension details13
Where to go for further information7
Equality and diversity policies6
Company web-site address2

Q21 a) Which of the following publications, if any, have you ever looked in for job advertisements? b) Which, if any, have you found useful in the past? c) If looking for a job in the near future, which, if any, would you look in?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 a) ever looked inb) found usefulc) would use in future
 %%%
Daily Newspapers715764
The Guardian13812
Evening Standard958
The Times948
Daily Telegraph848
Daily Mail736
Metro646
Daily Express625
The Independent525
Financial Times425
The Mirror523
The Sun523
The Herald423
The Scotsman212
The Star212
Any regional daily newspaper514248
Sunday Newspapers211318
Sunday Times535
The Observer313
Mail on Sunday322
News of the World312
Independent on Sunday212
Sunday Telegraph212
The People211
The Business111
Scotland on Sunday1*1
Sunday Herald1*1
Sunday Mirror1*1
Any regional Sunday newspaper868
Other Publications Local newspaper564549
Any business/trade magazine191518
The Voice212
Asian Times1*1
Catholic Herald1*1
Eastern Eye1*1
Diversity Today**1
Jewish Chronicle**1
Not stated142822

Q22 a) Which of the following internet sites, if any, have you ever looked at for job advertisements? b) Which, if any, have you found useful? c) If looking for a job in the near future, which, if any, would you look at?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 a) ever looked inb) found usefulc) would use in future
 %%%
Fish4jobs.co.uk18819
Guardian.co.uk/jobs6311
Jobs.com6211
Monster.co.uk8311
Gojobsite.co.uk5310
Jobs.ac.uk5210
Total jobs.co.uk529
topjobs.co.uk418
Jobsgopublic.com217
Not stated738573

Q23 Have you personally ever encountered any unfairness or discrimination when looking or applying for a job?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Yes15
No71
Don't Know11
Not stated4

Q23b (IF YES) Can you please describe your experience? What happened and why you think it happened to you?

Base: 276

 %
Ageism/too old18
Ageism (not stated)15
Ethnic/race/nationality7
Overqualified5
Gender/job for men4
Candidate already chosen/earmarked4
Gender/job for women3
Family commitments3
Ageism/too young2
Religion2
Discriminated because of disability2
Accent2
Long term problem/illness2
Appearance (overweight/style of dress/hair/tattoos)2
Lack of experience2
Favouritism/face fits/friends employed2
Look at qualifications rather than experience1
Sexuality1
Felt threatened by own experience/knowledge1
Other22
Not stated8

Q24 Are you?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Male53
Female47

Q25 How old are you?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Under 207
20-249
25-3418
35-4427
45-5423
55-6414

Q26 In which of the following regions do you live?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
London12
South East14
South West9
East Anglia9
East Midlands7
West Midlands9
Yorkshire & Humberside9
North East4
North West12
Wales5
Scotland9
Not stated1

Q27 Do you have children in one or more of the following age groups?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Children aged 0-413
Children aged 5-1017
Children aged 11-1517
Children aged 16 and over32
Have no children37
Not stated3

Q28 Which, if any, of these qualifications is the highest that you have obtained to date?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
O-Level/GCSE19
Vocational Qualifications (NVQ1+2)9
A-level or equivalent (NVQ3)15
University degree or diploma or equivalent (NVQ4)22
Higher university degree/Doctorate/MBA or equivalent8
Other11
No formal qualifications13
Don't know2
Not stated1

Q29 What is your ethnic group? Choose one selection, and then tick the appropriate box to indicate your ethnic background.

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
White91
British85
Irish1
Any other White background.Please state ...4
Asian or Asian British3
Bangladeshi*
Pakistani1
Indian2
Any other Asian background.Please state ...1
Black or Black British3
African1
Caribbean2
Any other Black background.Please state ...*
Chinese*
Mixed1
White and Black Caribbean*
White and Asian*
White and Black African0
Any other mixed background.Please state ...*
Other ethnic group.Please state ...*

Q30 The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Do you consider yourself to have a disability? (If yes) Which of the following describes your disability?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Yes9
No89
Not stated2
Yes (152)%
Co-ordination, dexterity or mobility42
Hearing12
Learning difficulties3
Mental health15
Speech6
Visual (not including wearing glasses or contact lenses)6
Other21
Not stated10

Q31 Are you?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Church of England40
Catholic10
Other Christian denomination5
Protestant4
Church of Scotland3
Muslim2
Baptist1
Hindu1
Buddhist*
Jewish*
Sikh*
None24
Other4
I'd rather not say3
Not stated1

Q32 Are you?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Heterosexual76
Gay man5
Bisexual3
Lesbian1
I'd rather not say4
Not stated11

Q33 Could you please tell me which of the following describes your current job?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
MAINLY NON-MANUAL(e.g. office worker, professional, manager)55
Higher professional and senior management7
Manager or technical and intermediate professional17
Other professional/non-manual24
Don't know but non-manual8
MAINLY MANUAL(e.g. builder, craftsperson, factory worker)41
Skilled Manual16
Partly-skilled manual11
Unskilled manual9
Don't know, but manual5
Not stated4

Q34 If management, how many people are you responsible for?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
014
1-410
4-96
10-195
20+4
Not stated61

Q35 Which of these descriptions applies to your current occupational status?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Paid full-time work (30+ hrs per week)65
Paid part-time work (8 -29 hrs per week)23
Waiting to start job you have already been offered1
Unemployed, wanting work8
Full-time education1
Retired from paid work1
Not stated2

Q36 (For those in full or part time work). What sort of employment contract do you have?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Permanent76
Fixed term -- year or more5
Fixed term -- less than a year2
Freelance / Agency / Casual5
Other3
Don't know3
Not stated7

Q37 (For those in full or part time work). How many employees does your current employer have in the UK?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
less than 1010
10 - 4912
50 - 996
100 - 49911
500 - 9998
1000+36
Don't know12
Not stated5

Q38 What is your gross personal annual salary (i.e. before tax)

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Less than 16310,00025
16310,000 - 14,99918
16315,000 - 19,99916
16320,000 - 16329,99918
16330,000 - 16339,9998
16340,000 - 49,9992
16350,000 - 74,9991
16375,000 or more*
No earned income4
Not stated7

Q39 Which daily newspapers, if any, have you read in the past 7 days?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
The Sun27
Daily Mail18
The Mirror16
The Guardian9
The Times9
Daily Express8
The Star8
Metro8
Daily Telegraph6
Evening Standard5
The Independent5
Financial Times3
The Herald2
The Scotsman1
Any regional daily newspaper28
Don't read daily newspapers17
Don't know*
Not stated5

Q40 Which Sunday newspapers, if any, have you read in the last 4 weeks?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
News of the World24
Mail on Sunday18
Sunday Mirror11
Sunday Times10
The People8
The Observer6
Sunday Telegraph5
Independent on Sunday4
Scotland on Sunday1
The Business1
Sunday Herald1
Any regional Sunday newspaper8
Don't read Sunday newspapers25
Don't know1
Not stated12

Q41 Which of the following web sites, if any, have you accessed in the last 4 weeks?

Base: All respondents (1,804)

 %
Google34
Yahoo28
BBC24
Ask Jeeves22
Amazon17
Friends Reunited17
MSN17
eBay15
Freeserve15
AOL12
Lastminute8
Lycos7
Guardian Unlimited5
Virgin4
Asian Online1
Blackbritain1
Disability now Clickwalla1
Fiftyon1
Handbag1
iVillage1
Jobability1
Rainbow Network1
China Town Online*
Clickwalla*
The Voice Online*
Totally Jewish*
Youreable*
Not stated38

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