Bias claims are widespread, poll shows

Monday, December 12, 2005

By HOPE YEN
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- Nearly one out of every six U.S. employees claimed to have faced discrimination at work in the past year, with women more than twice as likely as men to claim bias over hiring and pay, according to a poll.

The poll released last week by the Gallup Organization found that middle-aged women and minorities were more likely to report being victims. Out of the part-time and full-time workers interviewed by telephone, women were more than twice as likely to claim discrimination (22 percent) as men (9 percent).

Among racial groups, Asians and blacks led the pack (31 percent and 26 percent, respectively) in saying they were treated unfairly, followed by Hispanics (18 percent) and then whites (12 percent).

Broken down by age, 18 percent of employees alleging discrimination were age 40-49, followed by 17 percent for those age 50-59, and 15 percent for workers age 30-39. Complaints by those age 60 and over, as well younger workers age 18-29, were divided evenly at 11 percent.

"These data make it pretty clear that it makes good business sense to have operable diversity efforts in organizations," said Max Larsen, the Gallup Organization's government division partner. He added that happy employees reduce turnover and promote the company through word-of-mouth praise.

Workplace bias suits have been in the forefront in the past year. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. currently is fighting the nation's largest employment lawsuit, which alleges that 1.6 million current and former women employees earned less than men and were bypassed for promotions.

The U.S. Supreme Court also has shown interest, agreeing last week to consider how much authority employers have in transferring workers who claim discrimination. Last term, justices expanded the scope of the Title IX gender equity law and loosened standards in alleging age bias.

The Gallup poll determined that the actual rate of illegal discrimination is probably between 9 percent and 15 percent, because many of the complaints alleged unfairness involving favoritism, sexual orientation and education that are not generally covered by federal law.

Among other findings:

Gender bias led the complaints (26 percent), followed by race (23 percent), age (17 percent), favoritism (12 percent), disability (9 percent).

The most allegations centered on promotion decisions (33 percent), followed by pay (29 percent), hiring (13 percent), harassment (11 percent), work conditions (3 percent) and assignments (2 percent).

The poll was based on telephone interviews with 1,252 adults from March 7 to May 8.

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