Warning Signs Of The Workplace Women Should Watch

Home Budget-Chispa MagazineWomen in the workplace are ever making progress towards creating a place for themselves and affecting real change. But it is slow. There are still businesses where the risk of harassment, dismissal by colleagues and superiors, underlying bias and other discrimination are all too real. For the woman who wants to excel, these workplaces can really hold her back. So, what are the warning signs of a workplace worth avoiding or, at the very least, how do you know what you’re getting yourself in for?

Do women get support? A lot of companies are starting to address the unconscious bias that many women face in the workplace by starting programs specifically aimed at supporting them and addressing inequalities in the workplace. Woman mentorship programs, diversity training, proactive approaches to discrimination and harassment. When in an interview, don’t be afraid to ask if any of these programs supporting women exist. If they don’t, it’s a sign that a company is most likely ignoring that bias and leaving it unexamined, not that it doesn’t exist.

How high have women risen in the company? There’s plenty of research you can do on your own regarding a company. Those that prioritize equality in the workplace like Ogletree will often be very loud and clear about the fact that women are given the chance to earn their place in places of real power and responsibility in the company. If the company doesn’t have any women managers, any women department heads, no history of women CEOs or board members, ask why that is. Is it because the company typically hasn’t been an attractive workplace to women or is it because there’s gate keeping going on?

Are your contributions given equal weight? If you’re currently working at the place you’re examining, the personal experience can be just as telling as the stories across the company. Are your suggestions and your achievements constantly being ignored in favor of the same being praised in your male colleagues? If so, Fortune and plenty of other sources recommend taking a stand. You don’t have to call it “sexism” by name, but make sure you take a stand any time a colleague takes credit or a manager wrongfully attributes it to another.

Does the company have a dark past? A lot of companies are going to have some history of sexual harassment, discriminatory practices, or an otherwise unhealthy workplace. Doing your research on the business as suggested by Glassdoor can help you unearth any stories such as past court cases or media attention you might not otherwise be aware of. Research the company’s own site and supposed values, too. If they mention addressing workplace inequality or harassment, there’s a good chance they’ve struggled with it in the past but are making some attempts to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

Avoiding the biased workplace isn’t always the answer. By recognizing and challenging sexism, we are more likely to affect real change and to create more examples like Ogletree. But you have to pick your battles, so know what you’re getting into, first.

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Paola Ramirez

Paola Ramirez

Managing Editor at Chispa Magazine
Based out of beautiful and sunny Miami, Paola Ramirez has been involved in the journalism industry for 12 years now. As one of our Managing Editors, she is our go-to-girl for fact-checking and discovering what is new and trending. Her passion of beauty, health, fitness, and fashion is what turns on her "Chispa"!

Paola Ramirez

Based out of beautiful and sunny Miami, Paola Ramirez has been involved in the journalism industry for 12 years now. As one of our Managing Editors, she is our go-to-girl for fact-checking and discovering what is new and trending. Her passion of beauty, health, fitness, and fashion is what turns on her "Chispa"!