In 2025, workplace favoritism remains a significant concern in the US. According to Forbes, approximately 90% of employees have witnessed favoritism at work, resulting in unfair treatment and considering resignation.
Is favoritism in the workplace illegal? Workplace favoritism is not illegal. It only becomes illegal if an employer uses favoritism to discriminate, harass, or retaliate. Favoritism can happen in the form of sexual harassment when an employer demands submission to sexual advances as an employment condition.
Let’s study in this article how an employer can draw boundaries and maintain professionalism in the workplace, avoiding favoritism.
Understanding Favoritism: Definition and Types
Workplace favoritism can have negative consequences in the work environment, affecting employees’ behavior and productivity. Personal relationship over merit serves as the basis of favor or preference given to certain employees over others.
Such a bias can be in the form of preferential promotions or assignments. Favoritism on the basis of personal relationships includes nepotism, which is based on family ties, and cronyism, favoritism for friends.
According to https://www.jlwardfirm.com/, these dynamics create opportunity gaps and breed resentment among other employees. Favoritism violates good practice and does not promote a healthy work environment.
Signs of Favoritism in the Workplace
Watch out for some signs of workplace favoritism. It is a red flag if some people become the target of the most important assignments or get the top projects. Observe how feedback is given; some may get little or no criticism, while others go under strong scrutiny.
Take notes in team meetings on whether raises, promotions, or recognitions are awarded fairly and whether only certain workmates are always celebrated.
Trust your gut feeling. If you observe any kind of unfair advantage received by selected employee/s, you should report it.
The Impact of Favoritism on Employee Morale and Productivity
There are only negative effects on the team when favoritism is displayed in the workplace. Employees will feel unrecognized for their efforts and will begin to disengage from the team.
When employees feel undervalued, they will start neglecting their work or even working against their team members, making their work counterproductive.
Companies will eventually lose talented employees when favoritism takes root in the workplace.
Strategies to Address and Mitigate Favoritism
While attempting to overcome favoritism at work, accept that there is and does influence team dynamics.
To foster team dynamics, allow open communication where employees can feel free to speak up
for employees to feel free to speak up whenever they have any concern.
Instead of subjective assessment, create a performance-based assessment to evaluate employees’s work achievements to track progress and maintain motivation.
Raise awareness of any bias or areas for improvement through periodic anonymous feedback surveys. Managers should be trained to observe displays of favoritism and get rid of this behavior, communicating to all parties involved that the company values equal treatment.
This culture of accountability can foster timely and fair treatment of favoritism cases while embracing the lesson that favoritism sabotages teamwork and productivity.
Building a Fair and Inclusive Workplace Culture
Creating a fair and inclusive culture starts with respect for people’s different backgrounds and experiences, which is headed by the company management.
Openness in discussing differences must be initiated to consider every angle. Draft policies on general equal opportunity that guarantees equality, and then see to it all training and mentoring opportunities and promotions to advancement levels are available to every employee.
Recruitment and assessment should be free from any bias through checks and balances.
Conduct workshops on diversity and inclusion to raise awareness and compassion toward those affected.
Launch activities and programs that celebrate the cultures and points of view of your diverse workforce.
Take proactive steps by recognizing the signs and understanding the impact of workplace favoritism. A motivated team leads to increased productivity and collaboration. Prioritize fighting against favoritism to build a thriving workplace for everyone.
