premise: While most forms of discrimination in the workplace have been outlawed, discrimination or bias against some employees seeking career advancement still happens. This discrimination is both unwritten and unacknowledged. A glass ceiling is the term used to describe this type of discrimination and refers to the invisible barrier that people hit when they try to progress beyond a certain level in some businesses and organisations. Originally coined to illustrate the hidden use of sexual discrimination against women in professional environments, it is now used to describe any form of discrimination, such as racism or ageism, which prevents qualified or experienced employees reaching even basic levels within their organisation. Some reports and studies now suggest that change is happening and that cracks are beginning to appear in the glass. The studies also claim however that change is happening slowly and that the cracks are small.
hypothesis: There is no legislation covering discrimination at work so employers have to develop their own ways of preventing it.