Discrimination can make people fear for their lives. People may be harassed, threatened or stalked because of their individual characteristics. Companies should take measures to ensure their employees feel safe in the workplace, which is an employee right.
Despite proactive approaches to reduce discrimination in the workplace, employees may still become victims. Minorities may be discriminated against for many reasons. Here are several examples of workplace discrimination:
1. Race
Many old stereotypes can cause people to believe that other races have inherent qualities or genetics that make them more or less qualified for jobs. For example, it was often believed that African Americans were more likely to have violent tendencies. It was also believed that Asian Americans were inherently smarter and more focused on their careers. These notions may make it harder for people of certain races to find employment.
2. Religion
There are thousands of religious beliefs. Conflicting religious beliefs and negligence can cause workplace discrimination. Someone who’s Muslim, for example, may be forbidden to eat pork. It may be discrimination if a company knows about their employee’s religious beliefs yet orders a company-provided meal that only has pork options.
3. Sex
It was once believed that an individual’s gender would determine how far they got up the company ladder. For instance, women may have only been able to reach a secretarial job while men could become managers. This kind of gatekeeping is a form of discrimination.
4. Disability
Workplaces should accommodate people with disabilities. Someone with a disability that prevents them from walking could be discriminated against if they are not provided with disabled parking and ramps to help them into their company buildings.
5. Age
Age can lead to workplace discrimination. Ageism may happen when an employee over 40 years of age is asked to train their younger replacement.
Employees who are victims of discrimination should understand their rights and report to their employers. If workplace discrimination is not handled properly, victims may need to reach out for legal help to understand their options.