Both direct discrimination and indirect discrimination are illegal at work, whether it is job applicants or current employees experiencing the discrimination. If you experienced either, then you may have a discrimination claim. This is because it is illegal to discriminate against an employee based on certain characteristics that the employee may possess, such as the person’s color, race, gender, age, disability status, dress, religious affiliation, sexual orientation and pregnancy status.
Direct discrimination takes place when someone is treating another person differently due to them belonging to a protected class. This might be because the employee is of a particular color, age, race, gender, has an identifiable sexual orientation, or has a disability. Oftentimes, it is obvious when direct discrimination is occurring because other employees who are not members of that protected class aren’t typically recipients of any negative treatment from the employer.
Direct discrimination targets employees who have specific characteristics. Indirect discrimination, on the other hand, takes place when all employees are treated the same, but as a result some employees are disadvantaged because of this policy. To prove indirect discrimination is taking place, the employer must have a policy that applies to all employees equally which could result in the following:
Indirect discrimination may not be intentional but if it still harms particular employees, it may be considered illegal and the victim may have grounds to seek compensation.
It is never easy winning cases of discrimination at work but if you fill out the Free Case Evaluation on this page to get connected and speak with an employment lawyer who subscribes to the website, this may help you get the compensation you deserve for being a victim of indirect or direct discrimination in your workplace.