What term describes purposeful discrimination in the workplace?

The term that describes purposeful discrimination in the workplace is "Disparate Treatment." This concept is rooted in employment law and refers specifically to situations where an employer treats an individual differently based on a protected characteristic, such as race, gender, or age. In a case of disparate treatment, the discriminatory actions are intentional, meaning that the employer is aware that their policies or practices systematically disadvantage certain groups of people compared to others.

This is different from other terms that may be related to workplace discrimination. For example, affirmative action relates to proactive measures taken to increase opportunities for historically marginalized groups, rather than referring to acts of discrimination. Unintentional discrimination involves practices that may adversely affect certain groups, but without intent to discriminate, often resulting from systemic biases rather than conscious choices. Employment equity focuses on creating fair opportunities in the workplace for all individuals but does not specifically imply the intentional discrimination that disparate treatment does.

Understanding disparate treatment is crucial for HR professionals because they must ensure that their hiring practices, promotions, and overall workplace policies are fair and equitable, avoiding any form of intentional bias that could lead to legal challenges and damage to the organization's reputation.