Being discriminated against at work because of your race is unlawful. As defined by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, race discrimination is associated with skin color, skin tone, hair texture and particular facial features.
Race and color discrimination can happen at any stage of employment, from hiring to termination. Here are examples of this discrimination type at work.
Being denied opportunities
If your performance is excellent and you have been working for the company diligently, yet you don’t get opportunities, you should be alarmed. Examine the people being favored. If they belong to a specific ethnic group of which you are not a part, you may be experiencing race discrimination.
Examples of such opportunities are promotions, mentorships, networking events, training, tuition reimbursement, salary increases and additional responsibilities.
You are stereotyped
Racial stereotypes have negative impacts in all areas, including in the workplace. And it can be subtle, so you need to pay attention to how you are being treated.
For instance, if you are skilled to be in a certain department but are assigned to a different one because the human resource team deems you will be competent there, you may have been racially stereotyped.
Use of separating language
Some words bring division. If a colleague or a senior makes derogatory jokes or remarks about “you people” in reference to your ethnic group, they may be discriminating against you.
Employees deserve a comfortable work environment. Race discrimination can deny you this, making you dread going to work. If you believe you have been discriminated against, find the right support to determine your next steps.
