Everybody should be treated equally at their workplace and we take pride in helping people seek justice when that isn’t the case.
Workplace discrimination happens when a person experiences disparate treatment at their place of work because of certain protected characteristics. Put differently, an employer can not treat employees differently because of (to name a few things) the color of their skin, because they are aged 40 or older, or because of their gender. Workplace discrimination can take many forms: You can be discriminated against by your employer, your coworkers, or by the owners of the company you work for. It can include continuous harassment, a sense that you are the target of discipline when it is unwarranted, or a feeling that you are not being treated equally among your colleagues. Discrimination is a complicated area of the law that requires an experienced workplace discrimination lawyer to navigate. But with someone on your side to assist you, you can seek justice for the wrongful discrimination you have experienced.
What's the difference between unfair treatment and discrimination in the workplace
The main difference between unfair treatment and workplace discrimination is that discrimination in the workplace is prohibited by law. Federal and state laws precisely specify that employers can not make employment decisions– such as who to hire, fire, or promote– based on protected traits. Unfair treatment, while aggravating, is not a basis for legal action. For instance, you could have been passed over for a promotion because your boss recently hired their friend. Although you may have worked hard for that position and deserve the job, workplace politics and favoritism are not prohibited by law.
What are four major kinds of discrimination in the workplace
When we refer to workplace discrimination, there are four general categories of discrimination that could take place:
- Sex/Gender Discrimination
- Age Discrimination
- Racial Discrimination
- Disability Discrimination
Remember there are other kinds of prohibited discrimination that can occur that are prohibited by law, including discrimination based on pregnancy, national origin, gender identity, religion, or sexual orientation. Subsequently, if you feel that you have been unfairly treated at the workplace, you need to talk to a workplace discrimination attorney to discuss the legal options available to you.
What's an example of each type of discrimination in the workplace
Discrimination is not always obvious. However, there are particular fact patterns that may indicate that you are being discriminated against for inappropriate reasons. Below are examples of each of the main types of discrimination identified previously. There are many ways that you can be discriminated against, and the best way to assess your discrimination claim is to talk to a workplace discrimination attorney.
- Sex Discrimination: Unequal pay between men and women who have the same job title, experience, and work ethic is an extremely common example of sex discrimination.
- Age Discrimination: If you are demoted with no performance problems and your former job is filled by an individual who is far younger than you, you may have been discriminated against based on your age.
- Racial Discrimination: For instance, your boss and your colleagues use a variety of racial slurs in your presence during work hours. This is particularly flagrant if you expressed a desire for such remarks to cease or have reported them to a manager and the conduct does not improve.
- Disability Discrimination: If you ask your manager for a reasonable accommodation to assist you do your work (such as asking for a roomier workdesk area to permit wheelchair accessibility) however your employer declines, that can be an example of handicap discrimination.
We have successfully taken on workplace discrimination cases and obtained many favorable outcomes for our clients. We believe that everybody should be treated equally at their workplace and we take pride in helping people seek justice when that isn't the case. Contact us today to discuss your claim with a racial discrimination attorney and discuss your legal options.
