Almost one in four workers in the UK claim to have been a victim of
discrimination, bullying or harassment.
Research commissioned by the Guardian and recruitment specialists TMP
Worldwide and carried out by Mori, reveals the views of the nation’s workforce
towards discrimination and diversity.
Only two in five workers, 42 per cent, think employers are harnessing the
potential of the UK’s diverse population. One in three – around nine million
people – say discrimination is at large in their organisation.
Waqar Azmi, UK national head of equality and diversity for TMP Worldwide,
said: "Over the next decade, employers will be faced with a new set of
challenges resulting from demographic changes and an increase in labour and
skill mobility.
"This will force employers to take into account all the different
groups within the population to ensure they attract and retain the best skills
for their business.
"The findings of this research emphasise the concerns of today’s
workforce,
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"Only once these concerns have been addressed, will we see a long-term
knock-on effect on business productivity and, eventually, on the UK economy,"
he added.
The survey of more than 1,500 people reveals that of all those who had been
discriminated against, age discrimination came out as the biggest factor, with
37 per cent identifying this as a major issue.
