Stereotyping is the act of ascribing a set of traits to a person or group of people based on cultural preconceptions. When stereotypes persist in the workplace, candidates for promotion may be overlooked, work teams do not function properly and the corporate culture erodes. In some cases, lawsuits result from discrimination suits, damaging public perception of the company. Dealing with stereotyping in the workplace should include education of and interaction with all employees, as well as a clear directive to treat every worker as an individual.