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Paradox publish report on workplace discrimination and HR failuresOutlines changes to improve culture

Outlines changes to improve culture

Much of the report deals with “grey zone abusive behaviour, which may defy clear legal definitions but nevertheless impacts the victim”. This behaviour can include “using harsh and demeaning language, ridicule, recurring mean-spirited criticism, unfairly questioning competence, interrupting or speaking over someone in meetings, and blaming and shaming.”

Many women said that they did not report incidences of abuse because they didn’t believe the issue would be taken seriously or because they were worried about retaliation. Of men and women who reported issues to HR, 50% said they were unsatisfied with the response.

“Several people we have talked to, mostly women, have stated that they have decided to talk to us or file complaints only because they have decided to quit their jobs at Paradox now or in the near future, citing lack of confidence that they would still be welcome at their work place if it got out that they had made any type of complaints.”

Many of these conclusions mirror details shared in aunion survey last year, or inour own reporting in 2020.

What’s new is that Gender Balance’s report includes recommendations for what to change to address these issues. Those recommendations include increasing training for employees and management, strengthening HR’s processes for dealing with complaints, regularly surveying the prevalence of misconduct, updating guidelines for internal and external events “specifically around alcohol”, and more. Paradox CEOadmitted “inappropriate behaviour"with an employee at a company event in 2018.

Gender Balance, who were enlisted to carry out the report in October 2021, will also remain on a temporary basis as “an additional resource to use for employees who may have experienced discrimination or other misconduct.”

“The report is a first step for us to really address these issues and bridge the trust gap that exists,” Paradox chief of staff Mattias Lilja told Swedish news agencyDirektafter the report was published. “Everyone should feel safe at Paradox and thrive, that is our responsibility to ensure.”

You can readGender Balance’s report online in full.