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Workplace discrimination is essentially when an employee is treated unjustly due to their identity attributes, including age, race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, or pregnancy. It creates a hostile work environment, making it hard for someone to pursue their career. Discrimination at work can happen at any stage, from hiring to termination.
Some signs of workplace discrimination are apparent, but others are subtle. Thus, it is vital to pay attention to how your superiors and coworkers treat you.
Nonetheless, it will also help to know what does not constitute workplace discrimination. Examples include your employer giving you work, receiving work-related criticism, being disciplined appropriately, your employer having an opinion that differs from yours, being asked to join a committee or meeting because of your gender for equal representation, or getting/not getting a job position that is critically depended on a certain age.
Now let’s discuss how you can tell sooner when you are discriminated against at work. The following are signs to look out for:
Inappropriate Questions
If your employer asks inappropriate questions about an element of your identity, it may be considered workplace discrimination. For example, ‘[d]on’t you think you should retire earlier?’.
This sign is mostly seen during the hiring process. If an interviewer asks you suspicious questions, you need to be alarmed. Examples include, do you have children? Are you planning to start a family? Are you married/divorced? Where were you born? Are you disabled? Just to mention a few.
However, the US government requires employers to obtain certain information from applicants for census data or affirmative action programs. You may therefore be respectfully asked a few questions about your identity. The interviewer will inform you of the importance of asking you such questions.
Examples include, are you legally allowed to work in the US? If hired, can you provide proof of work authorization? Can you perform all the duties listed in the job description? What is your race/ethnicity? Are you a veteran? In most cases, you may be allowed to decline to answer, without affecting your employment chances.
Lack of Diversity
If your company is disproportionately filled with workers from a specific race, gender, age, sexual identity, and so on, it can be proof of discrimination during the hiring process. Employers can get competent employees from all groups of applicants.
Not Getting Promotions
If your employer constantly overlooks you for promotion opportunities, yet you are qualified, more experienced, and have good performance, examine everyone who is favored. Are they younger or older? Or from a particular race, skin color, gender, or sexual identity? If you notice a common factor in their attributes, you may be experiencing workplace discrimination.
Disrespectful Communication
No one should use disrespectful language when communicating with you at work. If someone makes derogatory comments about your identity element, they are discriminating against you. Furthermore, this sign is not always obvious. At times, a hurtful statement can be said subtly. For instance, one can say ‘you people’ ‘us,’ or make generalized remarks about a group you belong to. You need to be alerted if this happens, even if it is disguised as teasing or jokes.
Unequal Pay
Employers should pay employees of a particular rank, handling the same amount of work, equally. It is not fair for employees to receive unequal pay. You can tell if your employer is paying you differently by discussing salaries with co-workers. Some companies discourage this, but it can be the only way to discover when you are being discriminated against.
Unjust Dismissal
If you are unfairly terminated from work, you may have experienced discrimination. This includes being dismissed due to your disability status, health condition, or standing up for a colleague who was treated unjustly. You should also take action if your position is permanently replaced when you return from maternity leave.
If you believe your employer or co-worker has treated you unfairly, seek legal help. An attorney will examine your case, inform you of the rights breached, and advise on the best solutions to employ.
We can put you in touch with an employment rights attorney, fill out our contact form below.
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