OPPapers.com

Discrimination In The Workplace

Discrimination in the Workplace
Discrimination poses a large problem in the American workplace. While it is not as visible as it was in the 1960's it is just as prevalent. It can happen at any stage of employment whether it be hiring, promotion, assignments, or termination. The word discrimination means “treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit” (Dictionary.com Unabridged). It is illegal under both Federal and State Law to discriminate in the "terms or conditions of employment" on the Basis of a person's race or color, yet people still do it. "Terms or conditions of employment" means anything relating to someone's job: their position, pay, title, hours, vacations (Department of Labour).
Discrimination happens when an employer treats one employee less favorably than others. It could mean a female employee being paid less than a male for doing the same job, or minority ethnic employee being refused the training opportunities offered to white employees. There are four types of discrimination. Direct discrimination is when you are being treated differently because of your sex or because you are married. An example of this paying men more than women for doing the same job, promoting someone because they are single instead of an equally qualified person, or firing a woman because she says she is pregnant. Indirect discrimination is when you are at a disadvantage because of certain working practices or rules. An example of this is setting a minimum height, which can discriminate against women, or an employer won’t hire a part time worker and doesn’t have good reason for that decision. Harassment is behaving in an offensive manner, or encouraging or allowing other people to do so. People may make sexual remarks or gestures to make others uncomfortable. The last type of discrimination is victimization. This is...