Glass Ceiling

Glass ceiling is a term that is used in corporate and legal verbiage that refers to the structure or management hierarchy of an organization.  In business, companies tend to have a pyramid structure.  Usually, executives and c-level employees are at the very top of this pyramid, and laborers are at the very bottom.  If a business operates legitimately and ethically, people employees should be able to work their way up the pyramid through not only their work accomplishments, but also their credentials.

However, there are situations or organizations where people may discover that regardless of their skills, credentials, and value to their companies, they cannot advance.  Employees may start to wonder why it is that they cannot advance, especially if they are doing a great job, and may then come to realize that only certain types of people actually climb the corporate ladder. 

For example, if a company is comprised of 20% Caucasian workers, 30% Hispanic workers, 25% Asian workers, and 25% African American workers, and only the 20% of white workers are advancing, it would indicate that some form of discrimination is occurring.  Additionally, if it appears that only males are advancing in their careers, and females never get promoted, it may be indicative of discrimination.

This is where the term “glass ceiling” comes into play.  If someone were to draw an imaginary line within a company’s pyramid structure, and find that nearly 100% of workers at the top of the pyramid are Caucasian males, and below that line were all other types of workers, this would be a glass ceiling case.  The imaginary line is the glass ceiling that separates employees who will advance from employees who will get lost in the pyramid, which can be traced back to employer discrimination.

Los Angeles Glass Ceiling Lawyers

In the US, any form of discrimination in the workplace is considered illegal, and should immediately be reported.  Employees who have been subjected to any form of discrimination should consider speaking with an experienced employment law attorney, like the attorneys at Employment Lawyer's Group. 

If you are a current, past, or potential employee who has been subjected to illegal treatment, such as discrimination, call 1-888-252-7991 to speak with one of our knowledgeable Los Angeles glass ceiling attorneys.