What is systemic discrimination?

Systemic discrimination refers to the exclusion of members of certain groups through the application of employment policies or practices based on criteria that are neither job related nor required for the safe and efficient operation of the business. In many instances, these policies may appear to be "neutral" but they have negative effects on specific groups. For instance, a height requirement of 5'8" may appear to be neutral and objective, but it may have a negative effect on women and some racial groups.
Systemic discrimination can create legal concerns for an organization. Many employment barriers are unintentionally hidden in the rules, procedures, and even facilities that employers provide to manage their human resources. These barriers include, among others, physical access that restricts those who are mobility challenged and recruitment practices that limit applications from designated groups (e.g., word of mouth). Inequity can result if these barriers encourage or discourage individuals based on their membership in certain groups rather than on their ability to do a job that the employer needs done.