Workplace discrimination is illegal under state and federal laws; however, recognizing bias and knowing what you can do about it can ensure the justice you deserve.
What is Workplace Discrimination?
Discrimination in the workplace West Covina CA involves treating job applicants or employees differently or less favorably because of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, or military and veteran status. Illegal, discriminatory behavior includes bullying, wrongful termination, sexual misconduct and other actions that create a hostile environment.
You must first gather concrete evidence of discrimination and remember that an employer who does not like you is not necessarily guilty of discrimination. Evidence-gathering involves keeping a journal to document specific discriminatory behaviors and language with incident dates and times. It is also helpful to record the names of witnesses to discriminatory acts. When in doubt, consulting with a workplace discrimination lawyer will ensure you compile appropriate evidence.
Discuss Your Concerns
Sometimes inadequate training or ignorance can result in unintentional discriminatory behavior. If that is the case, meeting with a manager to discuss your concerns can bring awareness to the problem and resolve it.
Make a Formal Report
Discriminatory behavior might continue despite your reasonable efforts to curtail it. In that case, your next steps should be to file a formal complaint with your company’s human resources representatives or senior management. Once they receive your complaint, they must launch an investigation into your claims.
What Does Filing a Claim Involve?
When your employer is unresponsive to your allegations of workplace discrimination, you can initiate a claim with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing or file a claim with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Your employer’s size and the nature of the discriminatory behavior determines which organization will handle your complaint. Either organization will notify the employer about the charges, launch a formal investigation, and attempt to resolve the matter through mediation or inform you of your right to sue.
Workplace discrimination is illegal, but you can do something about it.
