Handle Workplace Discrimination With These Tips
As a working, responsible adult, your job is likely important to you. When that job is threatened through age, race, or other types of discrimination, the stress can sometimes be unbearable. You might find yourself trapped between the need to make a living and the pain you feel about being discriminated against. To soothe your nerves and resolve such a difficult situation, you should be approaching workplace discrimination with these actions.
Refer to the Manual
Most workplaces produce employee manuals for new hires. If you got one during orientation, you might never have read the document from cover to cover. However, when you're being discriminated against, you need to use the manual to determine how the company handles such scenarios. There may be a list of actions you must take before you can report an incident, or there might be directions about whom to talk with. If you've lost the employee manual, your boss or the human resources department should be able to provide you with a copy.
Take Notes
A vague idea that you're experiencing discrimination is not enough. You need to be able to point out specific times and specific words that were said. You should keep a notebook or journal that contains evidence that you can use to show that your discomfort is based on actual things happening over a period of time. When you report the situation, you'll have proof.
Talk to Someone Inside the Company
You should attempt to solve the discrimination issue within the company first. Your immediate supervisor is probably the person who you'll first approach about the problem if a co-worker is regularly discriminating against you. A paper trail is vital; insist that written statements be kept regarding every complaint you make.
If the person discriminating against you is your supervisor, you have other options. The company's human resources department could be the place to go, or you may want to go directly to the local EEOC--Equal Employment Opportunity Commission--for help outside the company.
Avoid Revenge
You don't want to create the appearance that you're contributing to the problems in your workplace. If things start seeming like a "tit for tat" situation, it's likely that complaints could be made against you that could affect how well your own claims fare.
Retain a Lawyer
If an employment discrimination lawsuit seems like the only way forward, a professional in the field is critical. Employment attorneys who understand labor and discrimination laws can help you create a strong case.
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