When people think of racial workplace discrimination, they often think about hiring policies. For instance, a company may refuse to hire workers of a certain age, gender or ethnic group, all of which are clear violations of those employees’ rights.
But what if you already have the job? Can you still experience some form of discrimination at work even long after you were hired? Absolutely. This kind of discrimination usually comes in the form of disparate treatment between one group or person and another that can only be attributed to something like race, gender, sexual orientation or another protected status.
Here’s what workplace discrimination can look like
Naturally, discrimination can look quite different from case to case, and unfair treatment can take a lot of different forms. That being said, here are a few examples that may help confirm your suspicions about the treatment you receive:
- You don’t even get considered for promotions that you deserve and there seems to be a “glass ceiling” for people of your gender.
- Employees of another race are promoted from beneath you despite their lack of qualifications.
- You get transferred to another position or location against your will and you suspect that it’s because your new manager doesn’t like your religion.
- You are constantly subjected to offensive comments — in person, through email, by text, etc. – about your sexual orientation, and told you’re merely being “too sensitive” about a joke.
- Employees of one race or national origin are given hazardous, menial tasks in your company, while those of another are given all of the choice job assignments.
Your job is where you have to spend at least eight hours every day. It can grow very stressful to be treated like this. It can also make you feel like your coworkers and your employer do not consider you an equal, even if you haven’t been fired outright.
If this is happening to you, it may be time to take legal action. Be sure you know what options you have and what steps to take to get the process started.