Playing Favorites? Avoid Favoritism in the Workplace by Treating All Employees Equally-Playing Favorites?

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The article by Cathy Cassata in "Medical Assisting Today" tackles the issue of favoritism in the workplace and offers practical advice to promote equality among employees. Favoritism, defined by preferential treatment towards certain employees, can lead to workplace injustice, emotional exhaustion, decreased loyalty, and increased intentions to quit among unfavored staff.<br /><br />Debbie Siclari, a seasoned medical assistant and practice manager, shares her strategies to avoid favoritism while maintaining professional yet friendly relations with staff. She emphasizes consistency by giving identical holiday gifts and equal time during performance reviews to all employees. Addressing common concerns like misuse of work hours in a group context reduces feelings of targeted criticism.<br /><br />Karen Michael, a workplace legal expert, points out that inherent biases can influence managers unconsciously, leading to favoritism. However, while this is unethical, it isn't explicitly illegal unless it transforms into discriminatory actions.<br /><br />Strategies to combat discrimination include attending workshops, integrating feedback mechanisms like monthly culture check-ins, and fostering an environment that encourages responsible bystander intervention. These methods aim to uphold fairness and equality within teams by addressing biases and accommodating diverse needs, such as those of disabled employees under federal laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act.<br /><br />Cassata urges managers to take responsibility for their actions, conduct self-checks, and continuously educate themselves on inclusivity and bias. Practical implementations like civility policies, open-door feedback sessions, and relatable training scenarios can create a more equitable workplace.<br /><br />Overall, the piece highlights the importance of addressing favoritism and discrimination proactively, fostering a workplace culture rooted in fairness, respect, and equal opportunity.

Asset Subtitle

Avoid Favoritism in the Workplace by Treating All Employees Equally

Keywords

favoritism

workplace equality

employee relations

bias

discrimination

inclusivity

workplace culture

Cathy Cassata

Debbie Siclari

Karen Michael