Ensuring your organisation can bridge the discrimination gap

Diversity is a major issue in many western countries. Most organisations have policies in place to ensure the work environment that they provide for their employees is varied and diverse featuring employees of differing race, religion, gender and all types of background. In China, however, the word has less gravity and is, quite often, glossed over by many HR departments.

Diversity can encompass many spheres and issues. In just the last issue of Network HR, I discussed disability in the workplace and how, even though China has almost 40 million disabled people who are of working age, the issue is continually ignored. However, it is not just disability which is forgotten. There are countless other aspects of diversity that do not get the attention they deserve, such as ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age and many others. The two most prominent issues are gender and race. Therefore, I shall ask, why are they so often overlooked?

Easily Ignored

There is one standard answer that many Chinese managers roll out whenever they are asked about ethnic minorities in the workplace: China has a far smaller percentage of minorities compared to other large nations. Ethnic groups in China account for just over 8% of the total population; well over 90% are Han Chinese. Therefore it is harder to create a diverse working environment - a compelling, albeit slightly clichéd argument. This is particularly so if you compare China to the United States, where minorities account for 25% of the workforce. However, despite these disparate percentages, minority populations in both countries amount to over 100 million people. So, why do so many people here in China fall through the net and go seemingly unnoticed?

"Racial diversity often slips beneath many organizations' radar."

Much of it is a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind'. Whilst the vast majority of multinational companies base their China operations in the eastern coastal regions, many minority populations live in the opposite extremes of the country. Tibet and Xingjiang are excellent examples of this. However, minority issues in China cannot be explained away by simple geography. Even minority populations in China's major cities struggle to compete in the workplace with the larger ethnic Han population. According to reports in China Daily, Beijing has a minority population of over 600,000 people. The average annual income in the city is approximately 34,000RMB, but 80% of minorities there earn less than this.

It is unsurprising that racial diversity often slips beneath many organisations' radar. Overlooking the situation seems to be something of a national pastime, extending all the way to the central government. Dainzhub Ongboin, the vice-director of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, went as far as to assert that China has no problems with race or ethnicity when he claimed, "China's ethnic groups enjoy equal status and live in harmony. There is no discrimination." I am sure Ongboin would argue that the rights of minorities in China are protected by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. In theory this is correct as Article 4 begins with the dynamic phrase "All nationalities in the People's Republic of China are equal." It also states that discrimination against any minority is prohibited. However, in practice, this is not the case. Many minority groups struggle both to find employment and to enjoy the same benefits as ethnic Chinese - just ask the 600,000 minority people in Beijing.

Bridging the Gender Gap

The relatively low percentage of minorities in China ensures the issue often slips beyond the peripheral vision of many organisations. However, it is not just minorities who do not receive equality in the workplace; women also struggle to enjoy a level playing field. Thankfully, women are a group who draw far more attention as the male/female ratio is much closer to 50/50. Yet even here, disparities exist. If you look around your office this may not appear to be the case. Women in China certainly are making great strides. More and more women are succeeding both in finding jobs and in performing well once they have them. This is particularly true in the HR field - over 75% of Network HR readers are female! Gone are the days of overt discrimination and thick glass ceilings. However, I would like you to consider whether your organization really does celebrate the diversity within it. Do you really appreciate your female staff? Judging by some of China's employment statistics, I am guessing not.

A survey by the All China Women's Federation last year reported that women between the age of 18 and 49 could expect to be paid just 70% of what their male counterparts receive. This statistic is shocking enough, but what makes it all the more troubling is the fact that the gap is growing, increasing by 7% since 1990. Additionally, in the past three years, 20% of male employees in major organisations across China had the opportunity to gain a promotion, yet over the same period just 16% of women had the chance to take similar steps.