Work discrimination causes a range of effects on employees being mistreated. If you have been subject to harassment, discrimination, or other offenses, you can pursue damages related to lost wages. However, the law also allows damages for any pain and suffering that resulted from your experience.
Mistreatment at work affects many other areas of your life, including your mental health and well-being. Forbes explains a few possible legal outcomes in discrimination cases and how you can link your work environment to negative effects.
Understanding emotional distress
Experiencing sexual harassment or a hostile work environment can cause mental and emotional harm to you, and this harm manifests itself in a number of ways. Your reputation may be damaged by the treatment you have endured, which leads to stress. You may also develop a mental health disorder, such as depression and anxiety. Depression is a persistent feeling of sadness or guilt, while anxiety cause chronic feelings of worry and panic.
Repeated discrimination and/or harassment at work can also cause problems with interpersonal relationships at home, as well as a decreased quality of life. Regardless of the harm caused, it is up to you to establish how the work environment led to these effects.
How emotional distress can be proven
If a doctor diagnosed you with a mental health disorder, they can provide information related to your diagnosis and treatments, such as medication. Expert testimony from an experienced and knowledgeable witness is also beneficial. This testimony will illustrate how discrimination led to the development of your mental health disorder.
Testimony from other individuals is also helpful. If a co-worker witnessed what occurred and its after-effects, they can give a statement. You are also welcomed to provide your own statement, as well as any evidence you have. Evidence is crucial in these cases, as it establishes that harassment or discrimination did occur and that it resulted in emotional effects.
