Despite being one of the South’s most progressive cities, Atlanta, workplace discrimination remains alarmingly widespread. Only in the previous year, one in four black employees across all industries experienced job discrimination. The treatment of members of the LGBTQ+ community differs from that of their cisgender counterparts. Sadly, despite the diversity of greater Atlanta, these practices continue to be commonplace.

What Does Workplace Discrimination Look Like?

Workplace discrimination, often referred to as employment discrimination typically occurs when a company treats a candidate or employee unfairly due to that person’s protected veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It might also happen if an employer fires an employee or rejects a job application because they inquired about, discussed, or asked about wages. Either a single person or a group might be the target of employment discrimination.

Examples of Workplace Discrimination

Workplace discrimination can take various forms, and all displays of this discriminatory behavior should be properly addressed and reported. This discrimination can range from outright racism, sexism, homophobia, or ableism to more subtle, more technical forms of discrimination like withholding a pay raise or barring employees from speaking about their pay rates with each other. Some examples of workplace discrimination include the following:

  • Grouping all indigenous employees together for specific work tasks.

  • Unfairly compensating employees based on their gender identity.

  • Embarrassing or poking fun at employees that do not consider English their primary language, specifically mocking accents and word pronunciation.

  • Only offering bonuses or growth opportunities to employees in a certain racial or gender group.

  • Unfairly quizzing new hires or employees on non-work-related subjects to bar them from working in a particular industry or to block that individual from receiving a title.

  • Being selective about which employees are allowed to use sick time; for example, employees who have just given birth are denied paid leave, whereas others that get routine, non-gender-specific procedures are allowed on leave.

  • Terminating employment based on any unalienable characteristic.

  • Making comments or snide remarks about the LGBTQ+ community to purposely hurt coworkers who identify within that community

Early work experiences shape people’s careers, and unfavorable experiences might affect their trajectories, future attitudes toward work, prospects to succeed, and sense of belonging on a team. Hate and harassment in the workplace are always unacceptable, and addressing these accusations as soon as they happen is crucial for seeking justice.

How To File a Workplace Discrimination Claim

If someone believes that they have experienced discrimination in the workplace or when applying for a job due to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing their own or others’ compensation, they may file a complaint with the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). They can make a complaint regardless of whether the applicant is certain that their employer is a government contractor or subcontractor. They can submit a complaint about discrimination by filling out a form on the OFCCP website and submitting it, by filling one out in person at an OFCCP office, or by mailing, emailing, or faxing a completed form to the OFCCP regional office that oversees the alleged place of discrimination.

Seeking Legal Help for Discrimination in the Workplace

Facing discrimination in the workplace is exceedingly stressful and can lead to poor performance, bringing on more targeted harassment from management. To properly file a claim about these instances, speaking with a workplace discrimination lawyer can help ensure that a particular case is air-tight and ready to go to trial. At Lamar Law Office, LLC, our team of legal experts is here to assist with any workplace discrimination claims, helping those facing harassment find supportive legal representation. For more information on our practice, visit our website and get in touch with our team to schedule a consultation today.