A new survey has revealed that three-quarters of workers in Ireland believe their workplace is plagued by discrimination. The findings, released by Matrix Recruitment, indicate that one in three respondents personally experienced discrimination, while 27% witnessed it affecting their colleagues.
Gender discrimination emerged as the most common issue, with 36% of respondents citing it as a concern—up from 25% in the previous year. Age discrimination was the second most frequently reported issue, mentioned by one-third of participants, followed closely by ethnic discrimination, which affected 25% of respondents.
The Workplace Equality Report also highlighted the significant impact of discrimination on career advancement, with more than half of workers stating that their professional growth has been hindered by such issues. Alarmingly, 77% of those surveyed admitted to having left or considering leaving a job due to discrimination.
Rena Weld, Recruitment Manager at Matrix Recruitment, emphasized the severity of the situation. “It is clear from our survey findings that discrimination remains a significant issue in Irish workplaces. It’s alarming to see how many people have either experienced or witnessed it firsthand, and that so many careers have been affected,” she stated. “Employers need to understand that they have a fundamental responsibility to address these kinds of issues in the workplace.”
The survey also explored the rise of far-right sentiments within workplaces, with one in four respondents reporting an increase in such behavior. Nearly two-thirds of those individuals identified discriminatory remarks or jokes as a common form of expression. Additionally, half of the respondents noted that colleagues tended to downplay or dismiss verified facts regarding the discrimination faced by minority groups.
Concerns about diversity and inclusion initiatives were prevalent, with more than a third of respondents saying colleagues openly opposed these efforts. Additionally, almost half reported seeing misinformation and conspiracy theories being shared in the workplace.
Ageism in the workplace also emerged as a significant concern, with nearly three in four respondents acknowledging it as an issue. While this marks a slight decrease from last year’s findings, the same proportion indicated that employees over the age of 50 face fewer promotional opportunities compared to their younger counterparts.
Among those who held the view that older workers contribute less to the workplace, over half cited a belief that they are less adept with technology. This perception has grown over the past three years, coinciding with the increasing adoption of AI technologies in various job roles.
Weld suggested that addressing age-related issues requires offering opportunities for upskilling and in-house training. “Key to resolving this issue is to offer employees the opportunity to upskill and provide training to ensure that all employees, regardless of age, can adapt to new ways of working,” she said.
As discrimination continues to impact the professional landscape in Ireland, the findings underscore the urgent need for employers to foster inclusive and equitable workplaces.
