Employment discrimination is a sadly common issue, and one that workers of all types may potentially deal with. However, that doesn’t mean it is necessarily obvious, and some people may be discriminated against without realizing it. Here are seven ways that employers may discriminate against their employees that you should watch out for:
- Use of offensive language or obscene jokes
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- Often, one of the most clear cut examples of discrimination comes in the form of employers using derogatory or offensive language, or making inappropriate jokes. These may include things like the casual use of slurs, or making jokes at the expense of certain marginalized groups.
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- Refusing to invite employees to company events
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- Sometimes, being discriminated against isn’t about what happens to you, but rather about what you get left out of. If your employer refuses to invite you to meetings, conferences, training, or other company events, it might be a sign of discrimination.
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- Excluding employees from advancement opportunities
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- Another commonly seen sign of discrimination is when employees are prevented from advancing in the company, and get passed over for less qualified or experienced peers. This also limits their ability to get better pay, or to have greater influence in how the company is run.
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- Giving unequal pay for the same job
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- One of the more common ways that employers discriminate against their employees is that they will pay two people with the same position different pay or benefits. Unfortunately, this often flies under the radar, due to employers discouraging employees from discussing their salaries with one another.
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- Refusing to grant earned benefits or paid time off
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- When employers grant benefits like health insurance or paid time off, that is supposed to be something employees can call upon, so long as they follow proper protocol. However, employers may discriminate against their employees by selectively refusing to grant benefits or PTO, based on their own biases.
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- Handing out discipline unevenly
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- Even in cases where an employee is rightly punished for their misconduct, how that punishment is handed out can vary. One employee may get away with just a warning, for example, for conduct that gets another employee fired, which is a potential sign of discrimination.
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- Retaliating against employees who report discrimination
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- Employers do not tend to like it when their discrimination is reported, either to Human Resources or to government agencies like the EEOC. When employers retaliate against an employee for reporting discrimination or other labor violations, regardless of whether they were the initial victim of discrimination, they may still have a legal cause of action.
If you have an employment issue, give the Law Office of Andrew Ross Sack a call. Andrew Ross Sack is a New York and New Jersey employment lawyer who has considerable experience in handling the many aspects of labor and employment law. To schedule a consultation with New York City/Long Island/Westchester employment lawyer Andrew Ross Sack, call (516) 526-3319 or visit his contact page.
