Racial discrimination in the workplace is illegal—here in Glendale and everywhere else in the U.S.—but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen. In fact, it happens far too often, resulting in disrupted lives, the loss of employment, and in many cases, the loss of faith in others’ humanity. If you’ve been a victim of racial discrimination in the workplace, it may be in your best interest to get in touch with a discrimination attorney in Glendale right away; you could have legal recourse and be entitled to financial compensation.
So what is racial discrimination, and what does it look like in practice?
What is Racial Discrimination in the Workplace?
Racial discrimination involves treating a job applicant or an employee unfavorably because he or she is of a certain race. It can also involve treating someone unfavorably because he or she has personal characteristics that are associated with a certain race (like skin color, facial features, or even hair texture). A racial discrimination lawyer will be able to explain how state and federal laws apply to your specific situation.
Other Types of Racial Discrimination
Color discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of the color of his or her complexion.
Racial discrimination can also occur when the victim is married to or associated with a person who belongs to a certain race or has a certain color, too.
Racial discrimination can occur even if the person perpetrating it is a part of the same race, or is the same color, as the victim is.
What California and Federal Laws Say About Racial Discrimination
Discrimination is against the law when it comes to employment. That includes:
- Benefits
- Firing
- Hiring
- Job assignments
- Layoffs
- Pay
- Promotions
- Training
- Any other term or condition of employment
Harassment and Racial Discrimination
You can experience racial discrimination without losing your job, being paid less, or being passed over for promotion. It can occur in the form of harassment in the workplace, and it’s also unlawful.
Harassment and racial discrimination in the workplace can involve:
- Racial slurs
- Offensive remarks about race or color
- Derogatory remarks about race or color
- The display of racially offensive symbols
Teasing, joking, and an occasional offhand remark don’t necessarily count as harassment, particularly if they’re isolated incidents. However, each of these things can become so frequent or severe that they create a hostile work environment or a work environment that is too offensive; that’s when they cross the line into harassment. If any of these things results in an adverse employment decision, like the employee being fired, they can be unlawful.
What if You Were Racially Discriminated Against at Work?
While there’s no way to predict how a jury will rule if you bring a case to trial, it may be helpful for you to talk to a Glendale racial discrimination lawyer if you suspect that you’ve been the victim of this type of discrimination. Whether you suffered adverse employment decisions, such as being fired or demoted, or you were harassed in a hostile or offensive work environment, your attorney will be able to tell you whether it looks as if your employer or people you worked with broke the law.
If you suspect you were the victim of this type of discrimination, please call us at 818-659-8331 or use our toll-free number (800-774-4163) to get in touch. We may be able to help you recover financial damages for what you’ve been through.