Employment discrimination can threaten your safety and leave you uncertain about the future of your job. If not addressed immediately, your experiences could jeopardize your career.
Knowing how to approach discrimination can help you determine the best way to respond. Your bravery in standing up for yourself could prevent ongoing abuse from impacting your life long-term.
Report your concerns
It is important that you understand what discrimination looks like. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, discrimination is any kind of unfavorable treatment regardless of the reason. Some reasons people may discriminate against you include the following:
- Race
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Age
- Gender
- Political affiliation
At the earliest sign of discrimination, report your concerns to the human resources department. If they neglect to take action, you might need to take your complaint elsewhere. This could mean writing directly to the EEOC or, in severe cases, involving local authorities.
Document your experience
Keep a record of your experiences at work. Document what mistreatment you endure and who perpetrated everything. Take note of dates, times and how you felt afterward. It is also important to document how the mistreatment affects your ability to work and complete your job-related obligations.
You deserve to feel safe and valued at work and to work in an environment conducive to productivity. If others’ actions prevent this and cause you anxiety, you have the right to take legal action. Depending on your situation, you might be able to secure damages to offset the repercussions of what you experienced.
