Workplace discrimination is something you hear a lot about these days — but would you know if you’ve been subjected to it? Would you know what it takes to successfully press a claim against your employer if the discrimination is deliberate or tolerated?
Most people are a little fuzzy on the details. Understanding more about workplace discrimination can help you better understand your rights — and your employer’s obligations to keep discrimination at bay.
Almost anybody can be a victim of discrimination
There are numerous federal laws designed to bar workplace discrimination — and many state and local laws expand on them.
Some common examples of discrimination in the workplace include:
- Assigning people of color unwanted work or less-than-desirable shifts while giving white employees the better shifts or assignments
- Firing women employees who become pregnant or reducing their opportunities (“Mommy tracking” them) for advancement regardless of the quality of their work
- Actively looking for ways to terminate an older employee before they can collect a pension or getting rid of older workers who are seen as less tech-savvy than younger workers
- Treating an employee poorly based on their gender, gender identity or perceived gender expression
The permutations of workplace discrimination are virtually endless, but they all have something in common. If you want to file a discrimination claim, you need to show that your employer’s actions were specifically related to your inclusion in a protected class, not any other reason.
Learn more about discrimination and how to build such a case before you decide to initiate any legal action in your matter. If you’re not sure if you’re a victim of workplace discrimination, it never hurts to speak with an experienced advocate about your situation.
