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The Impact of Microaggressions in the Workplace
Learn what microaggressions are and how to deal with them in the workplacePreview the first lesson free — get full access to all 6 lessons.
Beginner Provider : KnowledgeCity 6 Lessons · 19m in English, Spanish
Course Description
What are microaggressions, and how do they affect the workplace? Although they may seem casual and harmless, they have far-reaching effects that can damage workplace culture and damage the self-esteem and psychological well-being of employees. They occur when someone speaks or acts in a way that is prejudiced towards someone else. This can range from deliberate insults to discrediting someone else’s experiences. These behaviors cause people to feel alienated, invalidated, disrespected, and distressed. If microaggressions aren’t checked, they can lead to a culture of discrimination, promoting unconscious biases and stereotypes. That’s why it’s important to set clear boundaries and practice compassion for yourself and others.
In this course, we’ll define privilege, unconscious bias, and structural inequality. We’ll consider the different types of microaggressions and how they can affect workplace culture. We’ll also discuss reasons why microaggressions may occur and what you can do to foster a workplace culture that is more inclusive and positive.
What You'll Learn
- Recognize the danger of microaggressions in the workplace
- Define privilege, unconscious bias, and structural inequality
- Understand how microassaults, microinvalidations, and microinsults affect others
- Identify the different types of microaggressions and how they affect workplace culture
- Discover ways to foster a positive, inclusive, and supportive company culture
Key Takeaways
- Microaggressions occur when someone speaks or acts in a way that is prejudiced towards someone else, ranging from deliberate insults to discrediting another person's experiences.
- Although they may seem casual and harmless, microaggressions have far-reaching effects that can damage workplace culture and harm the self-esteem and psychological well-being of employees.
- These behaviors cause people to feel alienated, invalidated, disrespected, and distressed.
- If left unchecked, microaggressions can lead to a culture of discrimination that promotes unconscious biases and stereotypes.
- Setting clear boundaries and practicing compassion for yourself and others helps counter the impact of microaggressions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this course cover?
The course defines privilege, unconscious bias, and structural inequality, examines the different types of microaggressions and how they affect workplace culture, and discusses why microaggressions may occur and what you can do to foster a more inclusive and positive workplace culture.
What are microaggressions?
Microaggressions occur when someone speaks or acts in a way that is prejudiced towards someone else. This can range from deliberate insults to discrediting someone else's experiences, causing people to feel alienated, invalidated, disrespected, and distressed.
What skills will I gain from this course?
The course builds skills in handling confrontation, conflict resolution, and diversity and inclusion.
How is the course structured?
The course is organized into lessons covering an Introduction; Understanding Privilege, Unconscious Bias, and Structural Inequality; Defining Microaggression; Microaggressions and Workplace Culture; and Microaggressions and Psychological Safety, followed by a Test Your Knowledge section.
Professional Certifications and Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®)
Recertification Credits: 0.5
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM®)
Professional Development Credits (PDCs): 0.5
KnowledgeCity is approved by SHRM as a Recertification General Provider to offer SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP professional development credits (PDCs). By taking the courses approved by SHRM, KnowledgeCity can award SHRM Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for HR knowledge and competency programs related to the SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge™ (the SHRM BASK™).
