If you follow the news at all, you have probably gotten an earful this week of the bro culture that allegedly runs rampant at tech companies. Uber, in particular, has made headlines all week because of its 20-plus employee firings based on allegations of sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, bullying and physical safety issues, retaliation and unprofessional behavior.
What you might not know is that the bro culture is not confined to tech companies located in Silicon Valley. This culture of male executives favoring like-minded male workers over females can happen in any workplace, even right here in Detroit. We want you to understand the bro culture phenomenon so that you can avoid this type of work environment.
According to a reporter with The Next Web, bro culture workplaces have no real definition, but there are some elements that can help identify them. They include:
— White male chief executive officers (CEO) with little or no experience
— Like-minded male management staff members
— Female staff members treated as “second class citizens”
The dirty underbelly of bro culture workplaces is not just the glass ceiling barrier that women have little chance of cracking. Within companies that adhere to bro culture environments, there exists the potential for workplace abuse to women in the form of sexual harassment.
What can you do about it? You can report it. You can confide in a workplace discrimination attorney. You can make sure the world knows what is happening. You can hold these bros responsible for their actions. Perhaps most importantly, you can refuse to be a part of it whether you are a male or a female employee.
As lawyers, we can help you within the confines of the law. All you have to do is reach out to an attorney near you to learn how to fight against bro culture work environments in Michigan. Read more about your legal options on our website.
