Discrimination in the workplace is detrimental to the success of any business. However, it also has a negative effect on the victim’s productivity. The stress it induces can make it tough to give one’s whole attention to one’s work, which could have unintended consequences. Discrimination in the workplace can have far-reaching consequences, affecting everything from a person’s personal relationships to their physical health. Read on to get to know more about the examples and types of personal discrimination in the workplace. Let’s dive in!
What Does Workplace Discrimination Mean?
Discrimination is unacceptable at any stage of the employment process, including the hiring phase, during employment, and in termination. Discrimination occurs when an employee is treated differently because of who they are as a person rather than because of their skills or qualifications in the workplace. Whether on purpose or by accident, it is always wrong to do this.
Types of Discrimination in the Workplace
Knowing the four broad types of workplace discrimination will help you better comprehend the issue. The following are the types of discrimination in the workplace:
#1. Discrimination against People with Disabilities
Employers have a responsibility to accommodate their employees with disabilities by offering a safe workplace, competitive wages, and accessible job openings. Mental or physical impairments, such as impaired vision, hearing, or mobility, qualify as disabilities.
#2. Age Discrimination
Anyone above the age of forty is part of a special group that can’t be discriminated against in any way because of their age, including being demoted or let go from their current position. It is unlawful for an employer to treat a worker differently because of their age, even if the employer has reasonable grounds to believe that the worker’s abilities have declined with age. No one, regardless of age, should be told they can’t do their work if they’re up to the challenge.
#3. Gender and Sex Discrimination
Discrimination in the workplace on the basis of a person’s gender identity, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics is all too common. Parental prejudice and pregnancy discrimination are also included. It is illegal for an employer to reject to recruit, promote, or fire an applicant because they are a parent, regardless of the gender of the applicant.
#4. Racial Discrimination
Prejudice on the basis of a person’s race, color of skin, national origin, or other similar characteristics is another form of prejudice that has no place in the workplace. Any type of racial discrimination on the part of an employer is illegal and intolerable, including but not limited to making the workplace unsafe, not hiring or promoting an applicant because of their race, or giving an applicant work they are overqualified for.
Examples of Discrimination in the Workplace
Examples of workplace discrimination include when an employer, boss, or coworker treats another employee unfairly because of their race, religion, age, ethnicity, gender, disability, or skin tone. This extends to how people are hired and fired as well as how they behave in the workplace. To fully understand what this means, it is helpful to examine several examples of discrimination in the workplace. Both employees and employers benefit from this because it helps eliminate the possibility of discrimination on both sides.
Basically, discrimination comes in two forms. A direct obligation is the first type. In this instance of discrimination, the employer’s actions amount to systemic discrimination at the highest levels of the company. Vicarious liability is another sort of discrimination. This occurs when an employee discriminates against another employee and there is no proof that management took any action to stop it.
There are a number of statutes and administrative agencies in the American legal system that define and punish discrimination. Protected traits such as race, religion, color, sex, and national origin are off-limits for discrimination in the workplace according to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This includes the entire employment process, including the recruiting, advancement, and recommendation of new employees. Any violations of this law are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Government contractors are required to adhere to nondiscriminatory recruiting and working policies, as outlined in Executive Order 11246. To provide a diverse and inclusive work environment, these firms must implement affirmative action policies.
More about the Examples of Discrimination in the Workplace
Discrimination is easier to understand when examples of discrimination in the workplace are provided. This could shed light on the nature of examples of discrimination in the workplace and its effects on workplace equality and cooperation. The following are some examples of discrimination in the workplace:
- If a potential employee comes out as gay, it may dissuade an employer from hiring them.
- Employee discrimination towards transgender coworkers
- A manager’s attitude toward a single employee changes after learning of her status.
- When a company suspects that one of its workers has a disability, it is less likely to advance that worker.
- A racist accusation of theft by a security guard
- After her probationary term, an employer fires her because they suspect she is carrying their child.
- A woman who applies for a job is not chosen because of her gender.
It makes no difference in these examples of discrimination in the workplace whether or not the persons subjected to discrimination actually share the protected feature in question. When evaluating whether or not a certain behavior constitutes direct discrimination, all that national law needs to see is how it is perceived. It might be difficult to prove discrimination in court unless the employer admits it openly. However, most employers would fire an employee on the spot if it were proven. If you think any of the examples of discrimination in the workplace is happening, it’s important to stay alert and speak up.
How Do You Identify the Examples of Discrimination in the Workplace?
Recognizing the following signs of discrimination in the workplace might help you determine if you are a victim of discrimination in the workplace. The following are ways to identify workplace discrimination:
- Taking someone else’s shifts without a good professional reason, whether they are shifts you want or shifts you need.
- Making inappropriate comments about a worker’s appearance, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.
- Dismissing an employee because of who they are
- Refusing to hire or promote someone because of who they are as a person
- Favoring one person above another because of observable traits
- Refusing to provide a worker with paid time off for things like pregnancy, retirement, or incapacity
- Taking away employees’ rights to compensation and benefits
- Dismissing a worker because of their membership in a legally protected group
- Nobody should have to put up with being discriminated against in the workplace, being passed over for a promotion, or hearing offensive comments because of who they are.
Be Sure to Know Your Protected Attributes as an Employee
In accordance with the law, employees have the right to be treated fairly on the job regardless of the following characteristics.
- Collective bargaining
- The Sexual Dilemma
- Sex
- Religion
- ethnicity; hue of skin
- Possibility of or actual pregnancy
- Consensus on politics
- Status in a Committed Partnership
- Sexual orientation
- Work and family commitments
- Disabilities in intellectual functioning, emotional health, or physical health
- Originating Country
- Age
How Do You Prove the Examples of Discrimination in the Workplace?
Proving examples of discrimination in the workplace can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. A lawyer who specializes in employment discrimination cases can assist you argue for the financial compensation you are due. However, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) must be notified of your intent to sue for discrimination. This is a necessary first step before filing a lawsuit against your company and should be taken right away.
Keeping careful records of anything that pertains to your discrimination complaint against your workplace is crucial. All incidents, no matter how little, in which you experienced discrimination are fair game. Think about using both in-person meetings and electronic communication.
What Problems Does the Examples of Discrimination in the Workplace Cause?
The examples of discrimination in the workplace can create numerous issues for all parties involved. Because it prohibits people with protected characteristics from obtaining or advancing in gainful employment on the basis of disparities that do not impact their right to work, direct discrimination is illegal. The examples of discrimination in the workplace can lead to a number of problems that need to be addressed by employers, managers, and workers alike. The consequences of discrimination in the workplace include the following:
#1. Legal Problems
Discrimination is against the law. A company can be taken to court if an employee or contractor discriminates against another employee, a job applicant, or a customer on the basis of a legally protected trait, such as race, sex, gender, or religion. The company could lose a lot of money in legal fees and income if this gets bad press.
#2. Discouraged Employees
Employee morale drops when discrimination is present in the workplace. If an employee believes that their superiors or coworkers are treating them unfairly, it can cause tension in the workplace and add stress for everyone involved. Many employees in a company where discrimination based on how someone “looks” or “has” a protected characteristic would feel unsafe if they had to go to work every day. This has a chilling effect on morale in the office and might lead to higher turnover.
#3. Loss of Efficiency
The examples of discrimination in the workplace may also reduce efficiency on the job. This is due to the fact that workplace tensions brought on by discrimination can stand in the way of employees working together effectively. The ability to work closely together and maintain productivity is hindered if employees are hesitant to share their personal beliefs with coworkers for fear of repercussions. Employees may not be as invested in their work if they do not see the value in what they are doing for the organization.
#4. Conflict at Work
Arguments arise between coworkers and between managers and their teams as a result of discrimination and other forms of prejudice in the workplace. Staff members become antagonistic against one another as a result of this. Managers are tasked with resolving such conflicts, but doing so is time-consuming and diverts attention from other duties that need to be completed. Workplace stress and morale are both negatively impacted by this.
Strategies for Preventing the Examples of Discrimination in the Workplace
Having clear procedures in place that assist executives within an organization detect incidences of prejudice and take prompt action to stop it is one way to lessen the prevalence of examples of discrimination in the workplace. This also entails providing employees with anti-discrimination training and making sure that all members of the organization are committed to fostering an environment free from discrimination.
#1. Create a Comprehensive Anti-discrimination Policy
Make sure everyone who works for you is protected from prejudice by drafting a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy. After drafting an anti-discrimination policy, make sure all current employees review it and convey it to prospective workers during orientation. Statements explicitly barring discrimination, procedures for filing discrimination complaints, a description of the adjudication process, and a list of protected characteristics against which employees are prohibited from discriminating are all components of a good anti-discrimination policy.
#2. Educate Everyone on the Team
It’s crucial to make sure that everyone who works for your company is aware of your anti-discrimination policy and how they’re expected to maintain it. Provide training on how to avoid perceptual prejudice in the workplace for all employees, but especially those who work in teams or directly with customers. Describe what you mean by the term “discrimination,” how it manifests itself, and how you can spot it in yourself and others. Employees may benefit from being reminded that discrimination can lead to serious consequences, including dismissal from their work.
#3. Maintain an Effective Means for Airing Complaints
When employees have a problem with the company’s management, they can file a formal grievance. An organization would benefit from having well-defined grievance procedures in place for when employees have issues with the treatment they receive from management. An effective grievance procedure is one that is laid out in detail in the company’s handbook, including who is responsible for what at each stage of the process and how complaints are ultimately resolved. This gives workers confidence that they can take action against discrimination if it occurs on the job.
#4. Practice Open Communication with Staff
When employees at all levels of an organization feel safe sharing their thoughts and ideas with their superiors, peers, and external stakeholders, they are better able to work together. Employees who experience discrimination may be more willing to speak up with their managers if they practice open communication. Having a culture of free discourse in the workplace might also make it simpler to resolve issues between staff members.
Recognizing the Variations in Harassment, Discrimination, and Bullying
Distinguishing discrimination from other forms of hostile behavior, such as bullying and harassment, can be difficult. Here are some definitions to help you get a handle on it so you can have better working relationships:
- Discrimination happens when an individual is treated unfairly because of one of their legally protected qualities. This can happen even if there isn’t a specific target for the unwanted behavior.
- Workplace harassment occurs when an employee is subjected to unwanted, hostile, degrading, or humiliating conduct because of a legally protected feature. One form of this is sexual harassment, which occurs when a worker receives unwanted sexual attention or advances.
- The mental and physical well-being of workers can be negatively impacted by bullying when it occurs repeatedly and is deemed to be unfair.
How Can We Prevent the Examples of Discrimination in the Workplace?
The following are some ways to prevent the examples of discrimination in the workplace:
- Recognize the value of cultural and racial diversity at work.
- Act and speak in a manner befitting a professional.
- Avoid starting or joining in on any kind of harassment or discrimination.
- Jokes or pranks that are disrespectful to other cultures should be avoided.
Why Is It Important to Eliminate Discrimination in the Workplace?
Discrimination can prevent employees from getting promoted. When workers are assured of their safety and well-being at work, they are less inclined to consider leaving their positions. The expense of replacing lost workers due to personal discrimination in the workplace might be substantial.
How Do You Manage Unfair Discrimination?
- Take Note of The Unjust Treatment.
- Please Report Any Injustices.
- Avoid using any kind of social media.
- Make sure you take care of yourself.
- Talk to a seasoned attorney immediately.
How Does HR Handle Harassment?
They need to make it crystal clear to workers that harassing behavior of any kind is not acceptable. They can accomplish this by creating a system for employees to report problems, training supervisors and workers to deal with complaints of harassment, and acting swiftly and appropriately in response to such complaints.
Final Thoughts
Identifying examples of discrimination in the workplace is very important. It will help you stand up against it whenever it occurs. And the employer and employees should avoid them because it will not only affect the productivity of the person but also the growth of the company.
Related Articles
- GENDER DIVERSITY: How to Improve Gender Diversity in the Workplace
- WHAT IS DEI: What Does Dei Mean in the Workplace
- SEXISM IN THE WORKPLACE: Examples, Impact & How To Get Rid of It
- WHAT IS DIVERSITY? Why it Matters in the Workplace.
- MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE: Why Employee Mental Health Matters
- HOW TO SUE A COMPANY: What You Should Know, Discrimination, Debt & Guide.
- WORKPLACE HARASSMENT: Types, Examples and What You Should Know
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