Discrimination in the Workplace Extends to “Flextime”

By Kent Berk on September 19th, 2013 in BLOG, DISCRIMINATION, EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES

Discrimination in the workplace is a serious issue that affects millions of Americans throughout the country. Many employees are mistreated—terminated, demoted, harassed, retaliated against, or denied work privileges—because of their gender, race, age, disability status, national origin, or military status.

A recent article in USA Today demonstrates that, while great strides have been made to reduce instances of discrimination, it is a persistent problem.

The article discusses the discrepancy between the issuance of “flextime.” Flextime is a relatively recent workplace privilege: gone are the days in which a worker clocked in at 9 a.m. and out at 5 p.m. Today, more companies are offering variable work schedules that allow people to balance their work and home lives. Flexible working schedules allow employees to choose when and where they will work, with the expectation of a set number of hours in the office.

USA Today reports that, according to a recent study done by researchers at the Yale School of Management, the University of Texas-Austin, and Harvard Business School, men are more likely than women to be granted flextime. The study found that this was the case for both high-status and low-paying positions.

Researcher Victoria Brescoll said of the study’s findings, “It may also be that the association between women and motherhood is so strong that even high-status women requesting flextime to advance their careers might be suspected of the true reason for their request, or they may be viewed as less deserving of future training because it’s assumed that they’ll leave their jobs in the future.”

If you believe that you’ve been discriminated against in the workplace because of your gender or membership to another legally protected group, it’s important that you protect your rights. In Arizona, that may require your timely filing a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. And it is usually a good idea to contact an experienced Arizona employment law attorney about your legal rights.