Diversity management in European companies: intersectionality and individual experiences of bias at work

Abstract

This chapter explores diversity management viewed by working individuals with diverse identities, depicting how identity shapes work experiences in European companies, predominantly small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Drawing on Intersectionality as a theoretical and analytical lens, we analyse survey data from Austria, Finland, Germany, and Lithuania to examine how diverse individuals experience fairness and opportunities in human resource management domains, such as recruitment, inclusion at work, career advancement, access to training, promotions, and workplace adjustments. Our findings show that more complex profiles are not automatically associated with the most extreme levels of bias in every domain, while some less-complex profiles can still experience intense discrimination. We also identify some structural challenges to be addressed in European SMEs. Blending personal narratives and structural patterns, this chapter expands the approach to intersectionality research and provides managerial guidance on reducing bias at work and manage emerging demographic trends in Europe more effectively.