Your place of work should be somewhere you feel comfortable and confident. However, this is not always the case. Discrimination comes in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to realize what you’re looking out for. You can be discriminated against for your race, disability, religion, and even your genetics.
In this blog, we’ll be covering five examples of discrimination in the workplace and providing some guidance as to what you should do in these scenarios.
What is Discrimination?
Unlike bullying or harassment, discrimination in the workplace refers to the subpar treatment of an employee based on their personal characteristics. It can include direct or indirect actions such as:
- Exclusion from the hiring process or internal promotions
- Giving certain employees fewer desirable shifts
- Wrongful termination or denial of workplace benefits
- Inappropriate jokes or behaviors that cause unnecessary stress
- Denial of parental leave or retirement benefits
Types of Workplace Discrimination
Similarly, there are different kinds of office discrimination. Some include:
Religious Discrimination
This involves things like inappropriate jokes about your religious beliefs, refusing to promote an employee because of their religion, or not allowing specific religious garments to be worn in the place of work.
Racial Discrimination
Employers should not discriminate against color, ethnicity, nationality, or national origin. However, this form of discrimination is commonly experienced both directly and indirectly, so it’s important to look out for tell-tale signs, no matter how small they may be.
Disability Discrimination
If your workplace does not have a disability friendly facility, this could be grounds for discrimination. If your employer has failed to reasonably accommodate for your disability, you must make this known.
Pregnancy Discrimination
Some employers refuse to hire women who have hopes of starting a family because this means they will have to look for a temporary replacement further down the line. This is by no means legal, and discrimination of this kind should be taken very seriously.
Age Discrimination
Sometimes, older employees are unfairly treated, with younger members of staff being awarded bigger projects and opportunities, or even older employees being unjustly laid off.
What to Do If You Are Discriminated Against
If you feel like you have been discriminated against in your place of work, it’s vital that you reach out for help and make your voice heard. Associates such as Pennsylvania workplace lawyers can help employees build a case and file a claim against their employers. Before you decide to go down the legal route, make sure to do your research on the topic and ensure you are being discriminated against.
At the end of the day, nobody should have to withstand any kind of discrimination in the workplace. However, the reality is that many employees endure this type of treatment simply because they cannot risk losing their recurring paycheck. If you feel like you may be a victim of workplace discrimination, we strongly suggest you reach out to a legal professional who may further assist you and defend your rights as an employee.
