As an employee, you expect the same opportunities as those of your coworkers. Whether those refer to climbing up the corporate ladder, increasing your income or the ability to take on extra hours for overtime pay, an employer should be fair to all. However, in some instances, this may not be the case.
According to the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), racial discrimination includes treating a person unfavorably because of their skin color. This could relate to hiring decisions, promotional offers or fringe benefits.
What discrimination might look like
For Warren Yee, racial discrimination has allegedly become a part of his normal work experience with the Massachusetts state police. According to recent reports, the Asian-American lieutenant has repeatedly been denied opportunities that were offered to coworkers. As a result, he has not been able to earn as much money as the white men on the force.
As Yee’s case stands, the state’s Supreme Judicial Court has not ruled on whether decisions made about Yee’s transfer requests involved discrimination. But if you are in a similar situation, it may be important to understand your rights.
What you can do in the face of perceived employment discrimination
If you feel your employer is discriminating against you, there are certain things you can do to protect your rights. Just in case your dispute ever becomes a legal battle, you may consider taking certain steps, including:
- Inform your employer of your thoughts and feelings about your workplace discrimination
- Ask your employer for a written report and investigation into your allegations
- Maintain a written record of allegedly discriminatory incidents
- Keep any notes or emails which could support your case
- Involve the EEOC
In some cases, an employer may not believe they have wronged you. It is possible that they are right. However, when open communication with your employer does not provide your desired results, it is important to know that you have options to protect yourself against discriminatory actions in the workplace.
