Even if you enjoy your job and the people you work with, there could come a point in the future when you are the victim of discrimination. Since this can come about at any time, it’s imperative that you know your legal rights.
Here are some tips to follow if you have reason to believe that you have been the victim of workplace discrimination:
- Talk to your employer about what you think is going on. This will give you a clear idea of where things stand.
- Tell your employer that you are serious about your feelings regarding discrimination.
- Consult with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) if your employer is non-responsive.
- Take notes regarding what has been happening. Any evidence you can collect will work in your favor in the future. This can be something as simple as en email that a supervisor sends you.
- Review your employee handbook for more information on the company’s anti-discrimination policy. This will give you a better idea of the way things are supposed to work.
- Learn more about both state and federal laws. It’s easy to believe that you are on your own as the victim of workplace discrimination, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are state and federal laws to protect you, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
It’s never simple to deal with matters of workplace discrimination, but you don’t want to sit around and hope that things get better in time. Unfortunately, you may soon find that your situation is only getting worse, as your employer continues with this behavior.
If you find yourself in this position, the best thing you can do is take immediate action. This will allow you to feel better about your situation, while also showing your employer that you are serious about making things right. There’s a lot to consider, but moving forward one step at a time will help you immensely.
