New research has revealed that workplace discrimination remains a widespread issue in the UK, with nearly half of working adults reporting experiences of unfair treatment at work or during the hiring process.
A survey of 4,000 UK adults, commissioned by HR software and eLearning provider Ciphr, found that 45% of respondents have encountered discrimination in the workplace or while applying for jobs.
The findings highlight that age, appearance, and gender are among the most common factors leading to workplace bias.
Workplace Discrimination Affects Younger Workers and Ethnic Minorities the Most
The research indicates that workplace discrimination is more prevalent among people at the start of their careers and those from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Over three-quarters (76%) of respondents from Black, Black British, Caribbean, or African backgrounds and two-thirds (65%) of Asian or Asian British individuals reported facing workplace or hiring discrimination—well above the overall average of 45%.
Younger workers are also significantly more likely to experience discrimination. Around 65% of 18- to 34-year-olds said they had faced workplace bias, compared to 45% of those aged 35 to 54 and just 31% of those over 55.
The study sheds light on the most frequently reported types of workplace discrimination:
• Age discrimination: Nearly one in five (19%) UK adults said they had faced age-related bias, with 17% of men and 14% of women believing recruiters had judged them unfairly based on their age.
• Appearance discrimination: One in eight respondents (13%) said their physical appearance had negatively impacted their job prospects or workplace experience.
• Gender discrimination: This affected 12% of workers, with women being more impacted than men. Around 10% of women reported missing out on jobs due to their gender, compared to just 5.2% of men. Among non-binary individuals, the figure was even higher, at 27%.
• Parent or carer discrimination: One in nine (11%) people said they had faced workplace bias due to their parenting or caregiving responsibilities. For those balancing childcare and care for elderly or disabled relatives, the rate rose to 30%.
• Race or ethnicity discrimination: One in 11 (9.3%) UK adults reported racial discrimination at work, with 34% of ethnic minority respondents (excluding white minorities) stating that their race had been a factor in hiring or workplace bias. Among Black respondents, the figure rose to 39%, while 31% of Asian respondents had similar experiences.
• Accent and disability discrimination: Around 8.8% of respondents faced bias due to their regional accent, while 8.2% reported discrimination linked to disability.
Discrimination in the workplace can have severe consequences, including mental and physical health issues, reduced self-esteem, and career setbacks.
Unfair dismissals, unequal pay, and limited opportunities for career advancement are just some of the ways discrimination can derail professional growth.
The study highlights the need for organisations to take stronger action against workplace bias, not just for legal and ethical reasons but also to boost employee engagement, productivity, and retention.
Experts at Ciphr recommend several key actions businesses can take to combat workplace discrimination:
• Implement diversity training to educate leaders and employees about different types of discrimination, unconscious bias, and legal protections.
• Conduct workplace culture surveys to identify any existing issues and address them proactively.
• Use diversity monitoring to track recruitment and promotion trends, ensuring fair hiring and advancement opportunities.
• Introduce clear anti-discrimination policies that outline acceptable behaviours, reporting procedures, and consequences for discriminatory actions.
• Encourage a culture of accountability by setting workplace expectations from the top down and empowering employees to speak up about discrimination.
Despite ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts, workplace discrimination remains a pressing issue in the UK.
Ciphr’s findings underscore the need for employers to remain committed to creating fair and inclusive workplaces where all employees have equal opportunities to thrive.
For more details, Ciphr’s full Workplace Discrimination in the UK report is available online.
