In 2022, one in ten employees felt discriminated against at work, according to a study by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the National Survey on Working Conditions (NEA) and research institute TNO.
Employees are mainly discriminated against on the basis of origin, skin color and nationality. 2 to 3 percent of all employees say they have had to deal with this at some point.
Discrimination based on age is also common, the study shows. Employees up to the age of 25 are victims of age discrimination in 4 percent of cases. This is 5 percent among the over-65s. In addition, 4 percent of women said they were discriminated against because of their gender. This was less than 1 percent among men.
Due to a new research method, the figures cannot be compared with previous years.
Migrants
Migrants or people with a migration background are relatively more often confronted with discrimination. According to the study, they are mainly discriminated against on the basis of origin, skin color or nationality. Migrants from outside Europe in particular are often victims of this.
Employees who experience discrimination in the workplace are more often dissatisfied with their work. The research shows that this also means that they are absent more often than employees who are not confronted with discrimination.
absenteeism
Absenteeism employees who feel discriminated against also more often attribute their absenteeism complaints to the work situation, where they have to deal with quarrels, conflicts or transgressive behaviour, for example.
In addition, some of the employees who feel discriminated against at work experience fewer opportunities for promotion or development. They also feel that they receive lower pay for the same work.
- Confidential advisers: ‘More attention and reports of transgressive behaviour’
- ‘Half employees experience discrimination, especially when applying for a job’
