The Office and Employer Discrimination

From 2005 to 2013, the television show “The Office” stole the hearts of viewers across America. The show was remarkably clever; since it addressed the cultural dynamics of office life combined with the comedic talents of actors such as Steve Carell was bound to succeed. One of the most popular episodes, entitled “Diversity Day”, addresses employer discrimination and racism in the office setting. With Steve Carell’s character Michael Scott causing the majority of the discrimination problems at their office, this episode brings awareness to employer discrimination by demonstrating exactly what employers shouldn’t do. While a little comedy can be informative and rather thought provoking, racism and discrimination in the workplace are serious matters. Thankfully, there are a few simple methods we can use to reduce insensitive comments and abolish discrimination in the workplace.

Be Respectful

Employers and employees alike should be respectful with language and attitudes. Respectful language requires intentionality. Even if a comment seems funny, it is not appropriate for the workplace if it has racist connotations in any way! Michael Scott thought he was being funny, and he was really just being offensive. Importantly, the law can penalize employers or coworkers for consistent racist comments if it is causing emotional duress to the victim. We must be use language to encouragement – not make jokes at another’s expense.

Don’t Overemphasize Differences

Every workplace consists of people from different ethnic, socio-cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds. While these differences are beautiful and necessary for an organization to thrive, it is important to remember that a human being is a human being, regardless of his or her background. As we learn from Michael Scott, stereotypes are incredibly harmful in the workplace, and they can severely damage a team’s ability to work together.

But Don’t Ignore Differences Either

As mentioned above, differences are valuable! Diversity is an essential element in the production of new ideas. Rather than shoving down differences to avoid conflict, successful work environments allow differences of opinion to shape the culture of the workplace and make room for innovation. At its best, Dunder Mifflin embraced diversity and allowed employees to bring their unique differences to the table.

Tackling Employer Discrimination

In recent years, awareness has greatly increased surrounding the topic of employer discrimination. Several lawyers have also taken on this cause. The Perry Piñón Law Firm is an example of a law office that understands the importance of a discrimination-free workplace. Michael Scott is an extreme example, of course, but his character sheds light on an underlying problem in the American workforce. We can all work to eliminate this discrimination by using respectful language, focusing on our similarities, and appreciating our differences.