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Employers should never underestimate the impact of microaggressions and other "low-level" entrenched behaviours, as they can escalate "very rapidly", an HR advisor says in our new series, 'From case to culture'.

This article takes an in-depth look at "microaggressions", which featured in a Fair Work Commission ruling reported by HR Daily Premium in August.

In that case, an employee had complained about gender bias, referring to specific behaviours such as her team members persistently using gendered language ("gents", "fellas" and "lads"), or excluding her from communications and tasks. She also alleged they dismissed her credentials and overlooked her as a member of the team.

Humanify HR Consulting managing director Sarah Queenan tells HR Daily this can be quite common in male-dominated organisations...