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Microaggressions Unpacked: What Are They, How To Recognize & Respond

Microaggressions are “subtle acts of exclusion”. In the Community Social Services sector, microaggressions can undermine psychological safety and can negatively impact our sense of belonging in the workplace [1]. Microaggressions may seem small, but they can add up and have a cumulative effect that communicates “you don’t belong”. This can erode trust, lower morale, and reduce engagement over time, ultimately harming employees and clients [2].  Leaders and staff share a joint responsibility in recognizing and addressing these behaviors to create a culture of respect and inclusion. 

If you would like to increase awareness of microaggressions at your organization, download the Microaggressions Unpacked discussion resource here.  

This resource will support you to engage co-workers and lead a discussion about Microaggressions. It covers:  

  • How to recognize microaggressions   
  • How it shows up at various stages in the employee lifecycle 
  • Tips for dealing with microaggressions at work 
  • How to be an ally  

Don’t feel comfortable leading this discussion? Reach out to your Community Social Services Psychological Safety Consultant who can help you to facilitate this discussion with your team.  

References: 

1. “Jana, Tiffany, and Michael Baran. The Subtle Acts of Exclusion: How to Understand, Identify, and Stop Microaggressions. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2020. 

2. McCann, Laura. “Microaggressions in the Workplace: If They’re So Small, What’s the Big Problem?” CLD, 2023, https://user-o0c2imj.cld.bz/McCann-Microaggressions-in-the-Workplace-If-They-re-so-Small-What-s-the-Big-Problem/2/.