Discrimination in the workplace harms those who experience it and can create a hostile work environment for everyone involved. Many businesses are now looking for equity in the workplace services to ensure they are avoiding these situations and making their workplace a safe and welcoming place for all. In this article, we will define Workplace Discrimination and provide examples of what it looks like in practice.

What is Workplace Discrimination?

Workplace discrimination is any form of unjust or prejudicial treatment in the workplace. It can take many forms, including unequal pay and promotions based on discriminatory hiring practices, workplace harassment, or other forms of unequal treatment.  Discrimination can occur even when an employer does not intend to discriminate. For example, when a job opening states that the position is only open to certain genders or races. Discrimination is illegal in the workplace, and employers need to be aware of any potential discriminatory practices and take steps to address them.

Examples of Workplace Discrimination

• Unequal pay: Paying an employee less than someone else based on their gender, race, age, or other characteristics is workplace discrimination. Pay should be based on responsibility, workload, and hours worked.

• Differential Treatment: Treating employees unfairly based on their gender, race, age, or other characteristics is workplace discrimination. This includes any form of negative or preferential treatment that is not related to job performance.

• Harassment: Harassing an employee based on their gender, race, age, or another characteristic is workplace discrimination. This includes verbal, physical, or sexual harassment.

• Discrimination in hiring: Refusing to hire someone based on their gender, race, age, or other characteristics is workplace discrimination. Employers should take care during the recruitment process.

As you can see, these same words of gender, race, and age keep coming up. These are the main three areas that tend to be problematic and create discrimination claims that can often end up in the hands of employment lawyers.

Any form of privileging one employee over another because of the above reasons is likely to find the employer in trouble. It is for employers to adhere to the rules and ensure that staff always comply with work policy conditions laid out in law and contracts of employment.

It’s important for employers and employees alike to be aware of workplace discrimination and the potential implications it can have. No one should ever be subjected to workplace discrimination, and employers should take steps to ensure that all employees are treated fairly. If an employee feels they have been discriminated against, they need to speak up and take action.  Discrimination in the workplace is never acceptable, and workplace diversity should be celebrated.

Help with Workplace Discrimination

If you need help with workplace discrimination then you can turn to an employment lawyer for help. They can help to define if it is discrimination you are facing and advise you of your rights. It is not something that employees need to put up with these days because there is a law relating to it. We just need to know more about it to pursue our claim for justice when we are an employee.

Always look to hire a lawyer with experience in employment law for the best advice and defense. It matters when a job and reputation are at stake and the potential to earn money in the future. We do not want to come off worst when we have been the one that has been wronged during employment.

In summary, workplace discrimination is any form of unfairness in the workplace. It can take many forms, including pay differences and promotions that are discriminatory, harassment at work, or other forms of unjust treatment. Discrimination is not allowed by law in the workplace and employers need to be aware of any potential discriminatory practices and take steps to adhere to them.

Everyone should feel safe and respected in the workplace, and workplace discrimination should never be tolerated.  By understanding workplace discrimination and taking steps to address it, employers can create a workplace that is fair and equitable for all employees.

Jane