Introduction
Discrimination takes many forms in the society today. It involves a group’s interaction or reaction, restricting an individual or group from opportunities that are accessible to them, resulting in the exclusion of the entities or individual based on irrational or logical or decision making as for the individual persons profile is discriminated based on a logical or a bias reason. There have been many efforts around the world by organizations and governments to eliminate all forms of discrimination.
This essay focuses on sex discrimination at the work place, its challenges and possible solutions. Time has significantly changed towards gender equality in the work place, and most governments have made policies to make gender inequality unlawful. However, there are many challenges faced when trying to achieve this equality because the world in is a transition from conventional lifestyle to a much more progressive lifestyle. It was generally accepted in the past that women were not equal to men both at their work place and outside the work place. However, all this is changing as more individuals, organizations and governments advocate for equality.
Gender discrimination at the workplace can ensue in many ways. It may ensue during the recruitment process where men are hired in preference to women with equal skills and expertise. It can be in employment welfare such as the amount of vacation or training a male, or female employee is granted or in the form of sexual harassment, where a man or woman is not taken seriously and is considered as a sex object.
Background of the case
The main reason why ACME may be dealing with the issue of gender discrimination within its working place is because of lack of exposure of leadership in the organization. The organization is a family business and therefore may not be headed by the most competent leaders. Family businesses are run by family members with or without the required knowhow of running the business. Bill George is a superb example of an inept president who lacks basic knowledge of running a business in this century. He put the company in jeopardy when he knowingly advocated for gender inequality in the working place. If local EEOC office had discovered the inequality and discrimination within ACME, tough action would have being taken leaving the organization to fight for survival.
Despite the fact that most family businesses are prone to gender discrimination than other business institution, some have put efforts to eradicate the vice. Joe Black is an excellent example of these appropriate steps being made to attaining gender equality. In the case of family businesses, the management should lay down plans to see to it that a family member who may run the company has quality education, expertise and knowledge of the business environment. ACME will have to be rescued by Joe Black using knowledge and experience he has acquired while studying his law masters and work experience in the management of a manufacturing organization.
Bill George demonstrates a lack of competence in running an organization. This is also demonstrated by the work force at ACME. This can be attributed mostly to the lack of exposure to the working rights found in large cities where there is immense competition, and no single company can dominate the workforce. ACME is located in a small town of and is the largest employer in the community. The fact that the company is located in a small town may hinder government and other organizations that advocate for gender equality to shun the town and prefer to focus on large cities where thousands are employed. This leaves the residents and businesses in the small towns with little information about their rights and obligations.
The best solution to this issue is to gradually increase the salaries of the female workers and anyone who is underpaid on the basis of discrimination. It is not advisable to immediately increase the salaries of those that are being underpaid because it may lead to grievances form other employers. It is unpredictable how most employers may react to sudden changes in salaries of their colleagues in a town where gender inequality seems to be generally accepted. The salary increment should be done in accordance to the law that enforces gender equality.
Increasing the salaries of the female workers is a terrific step in enforcing and encouraging gender equality, but it is never going to go unnoticed by other employees who may not be in support of gender equality. The fact that the business is located in a small town means that it cannot take risks such as this that may result to frustrated employees in an environment that may be suffering from inadequate workforce. Successful implementation of gender equality may have to be achieved by laying down a number of steps that should be accomplished.
The most successful strategy will have to be one that focuses on empowering the workforce and residents of the town. Its success is more prevalent as there are a lot of people and organizations willing to assist in the implementation and enforcement of gender equality. This means that the company will not have to pay for these services and risk its operations in the town. The main reason that gender inequality prevails in the town is because the town is small and all organizations and government agencies advocating equality are likely to shun it and focus on large cities. Joe Black should seek assistance from these organizations and agencies in enforcing equality in his business and empowering residents of the town on gender equality.
Contingency and Follow Up
The results that may result from gender discrimination may be detrimental to the business as well as well being of the people in the town who may lack employment. Therefore, after gender equality has being achieved at ACME, there should be plans to ensure that it remains that way. It is difficult for people to make abrupt changes to practices that have being in existence for decades, some of the women may even advocate for inequality because that is what they have being made to believe throughout their lives. The follow up should not be left to the business alone, government agencies, and other organisations should see to it that the transition is as smooth as it should be.
Conclusion
There have many transitions in the work place over time; gender equality has been one of the significant steps made by most organizations in their individual working place. Gender equality was an accepted phenomenon around the world by most cultures; this is changing drastically with the help of governments and private organizations. Gender equality is expected to be a well accepted trend in the work place in the future.
