What You Should Know About Employment Discrimination

Employment discrimination involves different treatments for different individuals based on their race, age, gender, religion, familial status, disability or sexual orientation. Therefore, if you are treated better or worse than another because of characteristics you cannot change, the company may be accused of discrimination in the workplace West Covina CA. However, there are a few things you should know about discrimination before seeking damages.

Types of Discrimination

Direct discrimination involves individuals with differing inherent characteristics. When you are compared to someone else based on your race or religion, this is discrimination, especially if a major decision, such as a promotion or hiring choice, is based on this factor.

Indirect discrimination occurs when an employer requires that you meet specific job requirements that are impossible. Examples of this type of discrimination include employers requiring single parents to work overtime hours or a physically disabled person to lift heavy packages. If you can’t do what your managers require and if you are penalized because you cannot do these things, you may be a victim of discrimination.

Discrimination may also include harassment, retaliation, lack of reasonable accommodations and forced disclosure of medical information.

Prevention Techniques

Your best defense against discrimination is education and training. You need to know what the law defines as discrimination. You also need to share this information with your employees and managers. Learn about both state and federal discrimination laws.

Practices to Avoid

It doesn’t matter whether your actions are intentional or unintentional. Therefore, you need to be aware of how your hiring practices could be discriminatory. For example, watch the language you use in your job postings and interviews, and don’t use adjectives that would discourage one group of people. Avoid any questions or statements about race, religion or other sensitive characteristics.

Although some companies still pay men more than women for the same work, yours shouldn’t. Review your internal policies to ensure discrimination is not present in promotion, bonus or raise processes. Adopt a no-tolerance policy for discriminatio. Do not allow teasing or harassment at the workplace.

Whether you are a business owner, manager or front-line employee, don’t allow discrimination to infect your work.