When you go to work, you expect a friendly work environment where people respect each other without discrimination. The employment laws discourage discrimination, though it often happens. Workplace discrimination is an unfair treatment of employees or candidates based on their age, race, or gender. Discrimination can happen between an employee and a third party, between workmates, or between an employee and employer. For those of you interested, the Levitt LLP website has more information available. Here are clues that may indicate the need for an employment lawyer due to illegal workplace discrimination.
1. Discriminatory Hiring Practices
One of the apparent signs of workplace discrimination is employers with questionable hiring practices. Discriminative hiring processes target locking out qualified candidates from taking up the job positions. You can hire an employment lawyer if you feel that you have been discriminated against in the hiring process. You must prove that you are part of a protected class, the employer chose a less qualified candidate, and you never received the job offer.
2. Inappropriate Jokes
Most employees want to make their workplaces fun and comfortable to easily get along with each other. That means that employees can make jokes to lighten the workplace mood. However, workplace discrimination comes when a co-worker makes jokes based on race, gender, or age. Such jokes are hurtful. If you notice such patterns in your office or industry, they could be signs of discrimination that ought to be addressed.
3. You Earn Less than Other Employees Handling Similar Tasks
Employees have a right to earn the same salary or remuneration as other employees sharing capabilities, credentials, and experience. You should talk to employment lawyers if you think you earn less because of your sexuality, gender, race, or other protected status. The lawyer can help you fight for your workplace rights to earn your rightful earnings because you have grounds for a lawsuit.
4. Workplace Harassment
Employees have the right to operate in a safe work environment. Unfortunately, workers get harassed often in their workplaces. Some common types of workplace harassment may include sexual harassment, discriminatory harassment, and bullying. Physical, psychological, and third-party harassment from customers or supplies are also forms of workplace discrimination.
5. Overlooked for a Promotion
Another clue of workplace discrimination is when you have been working for some time, and other employees climb the ladder faster than you. Discrimination can affect your financial well-being if you miss out on job opportunities or salary increases. In that case, it would be wise to contact an employment lawyer to help fight for your rights.
6. Lack of Accessibility
Large companies are required by the law to consider disabled workers and make reasonable accommodations for them. An organization should interview qualified job applicants despite their disabilities. Consult an employment lawyer to understand the reasonable accommodations you need to make for your employees to avoid lawsuits and provide a comfortable work environment.
