Many examples of harassment or discrimination on the job are quite overt. For instance, it’s clearly illegal if an employer says they won’t hire anyone of a certain ethnic background or skin tone. Similarly, firing all female workers would be a blatant example of gender discrimination.
However, microaggressions are much more subtle. These are small actions, comments or jokes that can create a hostile work environment. While less obvious, they can still be examples of discrimination.
How can a compliment be discriminatory?
People are often surprised to learn that compliments can fall under the category of microaggressions. To understand this, you need to consider the underlying message of the complement and whether it targets a certain group or protected class.
For example, imagine a Hispanic worker is hired at a business primarily staffed by Caucasian employees. One of those employees makes negative comments about immigrants but then tells their Hispanic coworker, “You’re one of the good ones.”
At first glance, this may seem like a compliment, as it suggests the employee values their coworker. However, the underlying message is that most immigrants—or even Hispanic workers, regardless of whether they are native-born Americans—would not make good employees. This implication is discriminatory and offensive, targeting the worker based on their ethnicity or national origin.
Addressing microaggressions
Microaggressions can complicate workplace dynamics, often involving gaslighting. For instance, the person making the discriminatory comments might claim their remarks are being taken out of context or misunderstood. This can make it difficult for the affected individual to address the issue. As such, those who experience microaggressions or other forms of discrimination need to be aware of their legal options.