Acknowledging the existence of discrimination in the workplace and creating a sense of belonging to a team
By Kohila Vani Sigamoneya, Theophilus Asumub and Deborah Eastwoodc
aDiversity Champ
bDiversity Champ
cBOA Immediate Past President
Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]
The discussion of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is important and is becoming increasingly topical in an attempt to enhance workplace productivity and improve team morale. However, many amongst us will know that issues surrounding discrimination may be thought of as something 'made-up' and 'not important' because they reside in the way we think rather than being an actual problem. Raising issues may be attributed to not being tough enough or lacking resilience.
The above views very often lead to our colleagues suffering in silence and afraid of raising issues to do with facing discrimination. Apart from these views, the fact that there is hardly any data on sensitive topics to do with discrimination makes conversations to do with addressing discrimination difficult because accusations can seem unreal to those listening.
As the BOA/ BOTA Culture & Diversity (C&D) Champions of the North West, we aimed to take a step forward in gathering some data on the state of discrimination in the surgical working environment. We carried out a survey (initially a pilot, then a further survey done with the help of other champions, BOTA and BOA) to look at protected characteristics and discrimination amongst doctors in surgery as well as what people did about it. The survey was carried out in 2022 and the results were an eye opener. Multiple informal focus groups were subsequently held which confirmed the survey findings. The discussions reflected a degree of discrimination felt within the workplace that is not acceptable in its current state.
The results of the survey will be published soon but there are a few themes that can be highlighted here. Firstly, more than 50% of respondents in T&O and in other specialties faced discrimination. This figure is higher for doctors who are immigrants. More than 70% have witnessed discrimination in the workplace. In T&O, the type of discrimination most experienced is racism followed by gender discrimination. Same feature discrimination was also reported for race and gender. This is where someone with the same protected characteristic discriminates against another due to that characteristic. This was reported highest amongst those of an Asian or Asian British background, and women.
Despite these high figures, most respondents did not do anything if they faced or witnessed discrimination. Even if the respondent did report it, there were a very small number that felt that reporting the issue completely resolved the problem. Data from trainees showed a high percentage reporting that they have felt or faced discrimination. Although this was picked up by this survey, the training placement surveys sent out around the same time had hardly had any reports of discrimination. Most trainees state that this was due to fear of speaking openly about discrimination and the effect of such actions on training and career progression.
These results should be seriously considered by all of us. Given the Equality Act 2010 which advises that discrimination based on protected characteristics is against the law, the high prevalence of our workforce facing discrimination at work is concerning. We should all be aware of how we treat others as well as our prejudices and biases. We need to establish effective reporting mechanisms, allow people time to talk about issues, and help where we can. This will help foster a sense of being part of a team and improve morale and thus also go some way to increasing productivity.