7 Ways to Deal with Microaggressions in the Workplace

Dealing with microaggressions in the workplace can be difficult. They can be subtle and easy to ignore, but they can also have a big impact on your work life. In this blog post, we will discuss seven ways to deal with microaggressions in the workplace.

What are microaggressions?

Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional slights or insults that can have a big impact. They can be based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or other aspects of identity. Microaggressions can be verbal (e.g., “You’re so articulate!”) or nonverbal (e.g., a coworker avoiding eye contact with you).

Microaggressions can be difficult to deal with because they are often unintentional and hard to prove. However, microaggressions can have a big impact on your work life. They can make you feel isolated, unsupported, and unwelcome in your workplace.

Here are some tips for how to deal with microaggressions at work:

1) Acknowledge the microaggression.

This can be difficult, but it is important to acknowledge that the microaggression happened. Ignoring it will not make it go away and may make you feel worse.

2) Identify the microaggression.

Try to identify what type of microaggression it was (e.g., race-based, gender-based, etc.). This can help you understand why it made you feel the way it did.

3) Speak up.

If you feel comfortable, speak up about the microaggression. This can be difficult, but it is important to let the person know that their words or actions were hurtful.

4) Report it.

If you don’t feel comfortable speaking up about the microaggression, you can report it to a supervisor or HR. This is especially important if the microaggression is based on a protected characteristic (e.g., race, gender, etc.).

5) Document it.

Keep a record of the microaggression, including when it happened and who was involved. This can be helpful if you decide to report it to a supervisor or HR.

6) Talk to someone you trust.

Talking to someone you trust about the microaggression can help you process what happened and make a plan for how to deal with it.

7) Take care of yourself.

Microaggressions can be stressful and take a toll on your mental and emotional health. Make sure to take care of yourself by doing things that make you feel good.

By acknowledging the microaggression, identifying what type of microaggression it was, speaking up if you feel comfortable, reporting it to a supervisor or HR, and documenting it, you can take steps to address the situation. You can also take care of yourself by talking to someone you trust and taking time for self-care.