TechHR
ex
L&D
UNPLUGGED
Sphere
About Us • Contact Us
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
People Matters Logo
Login / Signup
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

  • HotTopic
    LeadersSpeak
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Submission Guidelines

Follow us:

Privacy Policy • Terms of Use

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

People Matters Logo
  • Current
  • Top Stories
  • News
  • Magazine
  • Research
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Webinars
  • Podcast
Login / Signup

Categories:

  • HotTopic
    LeadersSpeak
  • Strategy
    Leadership Csuite StrategicHR EmployeeRelations
  • Recruitment
    Employer Branding Appointments Permanent Hiring Recruitment
  • Performance
    Skilling PerformanceMgmt Compensation Benefits L&D Employee Engagement
  • Culture
    Culture Life@Work Diversity Watercooler SheMatters
  • Tech
    Technology HR Technology Funding & Investment Startups Metaverse
Netflix's 'The Chair' is a sour reminder of all the diversity challenges at work

Story • 10th Nov 2021 • 3 Min Read

Netflix's 'The Chair' is a sour reminder of all the diversity challenges at work

DiversitySports, Books & Movies

Author: Drishti Pant Drishti Pant
9K Reads
Hiring for diversity just for numbers or branding, a dysfunctional system to address DEI-related complaints, and the way women and minorities are treated at work, Netflix's 'The Chair' reiterates the loopholes in the DEI agenda at work.

In the dark comedy, The Chair, recently released on Netflix, the first woman of colour to be made head of the English Department at a prestigious university, Dr Ji-Yoon Kim faces some extreme demands and high expectations. Managing aging employees, generational diversity, a grieving former-chair, and more. 

After multiple failed attempts to convince a largely male and white dominated leadership to adapt her plans for the University, the protagonist Ji-Yoon says with a sigh, “I feel like someone handed me a ticking time-bomb because they wanted to make sure a woman was holding it when it explodes.”

Among the many tasks on her list, Ji-Yoon has to ensure the tenure of a young black colleague and parent her own strong-willed adopted daughter. The workplace scenarios and characters depicted in the series could be extreme but painted a faint true picture of workplace realities. They make you think and relook at your own DEI ecosystem that may be flawed in practice. 

Here are a few stark moments in the series that could make you think: 

Gender pay inequality & discrimination at work

Not only has Joan Hambling, a senior faculty member of the English department, been paid less than her male colleagues for several years, but she has also been discriminated against and given an office in the basement. 

Image Credit: Twitter

Joan's character is an example of many women professionals who despite having the same educational background, years of experience, and great potential are paid less, not considered for promotion, and ignored. 

Recent reports show that gender pay inequality at the workplace is improving. For starters, employees now have the courage, the ecosystem, and support to voice their challenges and opinions. But so did Joan. 

Does the problem end here? No. The real change will happen when these challenges voiced by women professionals are addressed and pay becomes more transparent and equitable. 

A dysfunctional DEI committee

In the series, whenever Joan goes to the committee to share her concerns, she always receives a set template of answers in response. 

Then what role is the committee playing?

In workplaces, as well, many times organisations take the initiative of setting-up redressal committees but the real diversity challenges are somewhere lost in the pile of paperwork, formalities, and structure.

Image Credit: Twitter

Another cause for delay comes on account of ‘uncomfortable conversations’ with the relatively privileged professionals who find it challenging to acknowledge the presence of some very real uncomfortable experiences of employees, in what they believe to be in inclusive and welcoming culture. 

To change this, DEI committees need a stronger voice and bold people who go beyond hierarchies and set procedures to bring the real diversity challenges to the fore.

Diversity is beyond gender 

Elliot Rentz, a senior faculty member of the English department is not comfortable with the new ways of teaching and methodologies applied by Yaz McKay, a young, black, woman faculty member of the English department who is up for tenure. He judges her work based on his experience and his own comfort zone with the old ways of teaching. 

Image Credit: Slate

His bad review could cost Yaz her job. The dynamics between Elliot and Yaz highlight that diversity issues can also be generational. It is not that Elliot doesn't respect Yaz's work because she is a woman. It is because he is not comfortable with her quirky working style. 

This shows why talent leaders need to look at the diversity challenges in their organisation more holistically. The real issues might be getting lost somewhere in your own bias regarding the definition of diversity. Furthermore, diversity has many layers to it. How do you ensure that you are not hurting someone's sentiment to promote the case of another. 

Image Credit: Buzzfeed

It is time to move beyond policies and set agendas and have real conversations around diversity. Then take impactful action to solve the prevalent challenges. Else, in the end, your workplace might just be a premise of another dark comedy series. 

Read More

Did you find this article helpful?


You Might Also Like

How to spot sexism at work – and fight it

STORY • Today • 3 Min Read

How to spot sexism at work – and fight it

Diversity#Well-being
Skills or Degrees: What employers value more?

STORY • 15th Mar 2023 • 2 Min Read

Skills or Degrees: What employers value more?

CultureDiversity#FutureOfWork
Where are women in crypto putting their money?

STORY • 13th Mar 2023 • 3 Min Read

Where are women in crypto putting their money?

DiversityTechnology#DEIB#WomenofChange
NEXT STORY: Flexibility & well-being will define the new era of the workplace & beyond: Jennifer Di, Baxter

Trending Stories

  • design-thinking-hr

    How to spot sexism at work – and fight it

  • design-thinking-hr

    Stronger together: List of companies that have refused to la...

  • design-thinking-hr

    Top future skills in HR

  • design-thinking-hr

    2023 Layoffs: A timeline of job-cuts in top companies

Upcoming Event: View All

Event Title 29 Mar Webinar

2023 Employee Experience Trends

Free 11:00 AM AEST

People Matters Logo

Follow us:

Join our mailing list:

By clicking “Subscribe” button above, you are accepting our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Company:

  • About Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Become a sponsor
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Contact:

  • Contact Us
  • Feedback
  • Submission Guidelines

© Copyright People Matters Media Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Get the latest Articles, Insight, News & Trends from the world of Talent & Work. Subscribe now!
People Matters Logo

Welcome Back!

Enter your registered email address to login

Not a user yet? Lets get you signed up!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

People Matters Logo

Welcome! Let's get you signed up...

Starting with the absolulte basics.

Already a user? Go ahead and login!

A 5 digit OTP has been sent to your email address.

This is so we know it's you. Haven't received it yet? Resend the email or then change your email ID.

Let's get to know you better

We'll never share your details with anyone, pinky swear.

And lastly...

Your official designation and company name.