The research, based on over 1,800 interviews, was commissioned by The Guardian and TMP Worldwide and carried out by MORI. It reveals the views of the nation's workforce towards discrimination and diversity. One in three workers, around nine million people, say discrimination is at large in their organisation.
As the pension crisis worsens and we prepare to work longer, those in the 55+ age groups are more likely than any other group to experience unfair treatment. Only a third of older workers believe that pay and perks are fair and based on merit in their organisations.
Disabled workers feel that equal opportunity policies have failed them. One third of disabled respondents felt that managers ignored equal opportunity policies.
One in five black adults say that they have been discriminated against in some way at work, as do 16% of all ethnic minority respondents.
A higher percentage of black respondents felt that discrimination existed in the workplace, 62%, compared to 31% of white respondents. Asian respondents were least likely to believe that discrimination existed, with 61% believing there was no discrimination in the workplace.
Women are generally more satisfied and optimistic about working life than men. Perhaps surprisingly, more men think discrimination exists in the workplace, 36%, compared to 29% of women.
There are legal protections against discrimination in the workplace and an employer can be held vicariously liable under discrimination legislation for any act of discrimination or harassment by one of its employees unless it can show that it took all reasonable steps to prevent the conduct.
Gender, race, and disability discrimination are already covered by laws; but the regime is about to expand.
The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 will come into force in the UK in December this year; and legislation making age discrimination in employment unlawful will not be implemented in the UK until 2006.
Andre McGarrigle, The Guardian's Head of Research, commented:
"Employees in organisations where diversity is valued in turn value their working life more highly and show higher levels of motivation. And a motivated workforce is of primary importance for any organisation in today's competitive landscape."