ABSTRACT
International business has proliferated to a point where most major industries and services operate on a multinational level. Global organizations encounter a wide assortment of laws, employment practices, and individual challenges as they manage human resources located in different countries and cultures. Within this global mix, local discriminatory practices may not be salient to human resource (HR) professionals from a parent organization. Furthermore, attempts to standardize or implement nondiscriminatory HR practices may be resisted or prove counterproductive. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of employment discrimination across countries from a variety of geographical and cultural settings. Organizational discriminatory practices and targets of discrimination are reviewed. Legal protections against employment discrimination and the extent to which laws are enforced will be discussed. Finally, organizational initiatives to ensure fair employment practices are presented to guide future human resource management.
