Navigating the modern workforce is a challenge for anyone, but for individuals from low socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds, there can be unique social hurdles. These social gaffes—small, often unintentional missteps in behavior or communication—may seem trivial to some but can significantly impact one’s professional opportunities, networking potential, and career advancement. Understanding these common social pitfalls can offer a pathway to fostering more inclusive work environments while empowering individuals to overcome them.

1. Communication Style Differences

People from low-SES backgrounds may communicate in ways that differ from the norms typically expected in white-collar or professional environments. This can include a more informal tone, slang, or speaking with a directness that might be perceived as blunt. While authenticity is important, in certain professional settings, communication is expected to follow more formal, polished conventions.

Impact: Communication that’s perceived as too casual or direct can be seen as unprofessional, making it harder for low-SES individuals to establish credibility or leadership potential. It can also affect how seriously their ideas are taken in meetings or presentations.

How to Navigate: Learning and adapting to the communication norms of specific industries is crucial. While it’s important not to lose one’s authentic voice, adopting more formal language, refining tone, and practicing professional communication can help bridge the gap. Organizations, on the other hand, should strive to embrace diverse communication styles rather than impose a singular norm.

2. Dress and Grooming Missteps

Dress for the job you want.

People from low-SES backgrounds may not always have access to the same financial resources for clothing and grooming as their higher-SES counterparts. Additionally, they might not have been exposed to the unspoken rules of professional attire that prevail in certain industries.

Impact: Dressing too casually or not in line with the company’s unspoken dress code can lead to judgments about a person’s competence or seriousness. In some environments, appearance significantly influences first impressions, which can affect job interviews, promotions, and relationships with colleagues.

How to Navigate: Seeking mentorship or guidance on appropriate workplace attire can be helpful. Dressing according to the norms of one’s workplace can signal that the individual understands and respects the company culture. Employers can help by making their dress codes clear and ensuring they’re not overly restrictive or exclusive.

3. Understanding of Hierarchy and Authority

In some low-SES communities, there’s often a strong emphasis on respect for authority figures, but in a more rigid and hierarchical way. This may lead individuals to shy away from questioning superiors or offering input when they disagree with a higher-up.

Impact: In environments where innovation and collaboration are prized, being overly deferential can be misinterpreted as a lack of leadership, initiative, or confidence. Individuals who don’t engage with or challenge their superiors may miss out on opportunities to demonstrate their skills or share valuable insights.

How to Navigate: Developing assertiveness and learning how to challenge ideas respectfully can help individuals from low-SES backgrounds gain visibility and respect in the workplace. Organizations, too, should foster cultures where employees feel comfortable speaking up, regardless of their background.

4. Social Cues and Networking Skills

People from low-SES backgrounds may have less experience navigating professional networks, as they might not have been exposed to environments where networking is a common practice. This can manifest in challenges with understanding subtle social cues, knowing when and how to follow up on introductions, or engaging in small talk, which is often critical to building professional relationships.

Impact: In many industries, networking is crucial for career advancement. Not recognizing opportunities to network, or mishandling those interactions, can limit an individual’s chances to connect with mentors, sponsors, or decision-makers. It can also leave them feeling isolated within the workplace, as informal networking often happens outside of formal work settings.

How to Navigate: Learning basic networking skills—such as how to initiate conversations, follow up professionally, and use social events to build connections—can be invaluable. Companies can facilitate this by creating more inclusive networking opportunities and mentoring programs that cater to diverse backgrounds.

5. Overcompensating with Deference or Humility

Many individuals from low-SES backgrounds have been socialized to downplay their achievements or defer to others out of respect, humility, or fear of coming across as arrogant. While this is a valuable trait in many personal contexts, in the professional world, it can lead to individuals being overlooked for promotions or key assignments.

Impact: When people don’t advocate for their own work, they risk being underestimated or ignored. Self-advocacy is often required in competitive work environments, where standing out can be key to advancement.

How to Navigate: Learning how to talk about one’s achievements in a way that feels authentic but confident is a critical skill. Low-SES individuals may benefit from training in self-promotion, while companies can support by recognizing the contributions of all employees, not just those who self-promote aggressively.

6. Time Management Expectations

Time management and punctuality are valued differently across cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. For some, balancing multiple jobs, family responsibilities, and limited resources may have fostered a more flexible approach to time. In contrast, many workplaces operate with a strict adherence to deadlines and schedules.

Impact: Poor time management can result in missed opportunities, meetings, or deliverables, negatively affecting an employee’s reputation and performance. It may also reinforce stereotypes about reliability.

How to Navigate: Setting personal time management strategies, such as using tools to stay organized or scheduling reminders, can help bridge this gap. Organizations should also be aware that inflexible time expectations may disproportionately affect those from low-SES backgrounds and provide reasonable accommodations when necessary.

7. Understanding of Workplace Etiquette

Workplace etiquette, from email communication to meeting behavior, can differ from what low-SES individuals may be accustomed to. For example, they might not have learned the norms of CC’ing supervisors in emails, responding within certain time frames, or contributing in structured meetings.

Impact: Missing out on these nuances can make an employee appear unprofessional or inexperienced. It can also create friction between them and their colleagues who expect certain behaviors in workplace interactions.

How to Navigate: Investing time in learning the specific etiquette of one’s workplace, and asking for feedback, can make a significant difference. Employers can assist by offering onboarding that explicitly covers workplace norms.

Moving Forward: Fostering Inclusivity

For individuals from low-SES backgrounds, understanding these common social gaffes and working to navigate them effectively is a critical part of career growth. However, the onus shouldn’t fall solely on these individuals. Employers and organizations must play an active role in fostering inclusive environments that embrace diversity in communication styles, backgrounds, and experiences.

Conclusion

The barriers faced by people from low-SES backgrounds are not always visible, but the impact of these social gaffes in the workplace can be profound. From misunderstandings in communication to challenges in networking, these small missteps can have lasting career consequences. By building awareness, providing mentorship, and encouraging inclusive practices, we can ensure that socioeconomic background does not determine professional success.