Class Lines at Work: The Silent Barrier HR and Diversity Managers Can No Longer Ignore

This chapter critically examines the influence of social class of origin on workplace dynamics, revealing its profound impact on employment opportunities and career progression. It emphasizes the need for organizational studies to address social class discrimination, advocating for inclusive HR policies and practices. Through an empirical project on the Italian HR professional community, this chapter shows that social class is still a construct which does not inform the actions and values of the profession. It discusses the implications of these findings for diversity management, proposing strategies to promote inclusivity and mitigate class-based discrimination. This chapter contributes to the understanding of social class dynamics in the workplace and has the aim to act as a wake-up call for the HR professional and research community by offering actionable recommendations for fostering a more equitable organizational environment, also considering the specificities of the Italian context.