3 Legal Options Against Racial Discrimination in the Workplace
Race relations have been a problem in the US since before it became a country. From slavery to Jim Crow, to the Black Lives Matter Movement, the country truly has come a long way.
These days, one of the biggest issues with race relations is discrimination, especially in the job market. Racial discrimination in the workplace is a common issue, and often a difficult one to spot and stop.
There are a few different reasons for this. The first is that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is underfunded and understaffed.
The other is that it’s easy to lie about. For instance, an employer who didn’t hire you because of race could always claim you were over-qualified.
There are a few ways to fight discrimination. Keep reading!
- Talk to Human Resources
The Human Resources department is designed to handle sensitive issues that occur in the workplace, and discrimination is one of them. HR is required by law to investigate discrimination claims, and if they’re proven valid, the major will likely have to take sensitivity courses, if they’re even allowed to keep their job.
This puts the manager, or whoever it is that’s discriminating against you, in a very difficult position. For instance, retaliation is illegal, meaning that the manager isn’t allowed to fire you for starting an investigation.
- Talk to the Union
You have another option if you’re part of a union. Labor unions are a major part of the workforce and can be instrumental in helping an employee fight discrimination or harassment.
While you can only do so much on your own, the Union has a lot more resources to offer. They have the power to call for strikes if the manager refuses to change their behavior.
They can also put forth a lot more money if you need a lawyer.
- Go See a Lawyer
If you think you’re the victim of workplace racism, talk to a lawyer immediately, preferably one that specializes in these kinds of cases. Davtyan Law Firm would be a good place to look into, for example.
If you’re wondering how to stop racial discrimination in the workplace, a lawyer is often enough.
Lawyers can be a great deterrent. You likely won’t have to go to court. The majority of civil cases are resolved before going to trial.
Court cases are expensive and come with the added risk of having the company’s name tarnished. Most businesses would prefer to settle if at all possible.
Racial Discrimination in the Workplace and What to Do About it
Despite all the progress we’ve made in race relations, racial discrimination in the workplace is still a huge problem. Worse yet, it’s a hard one to solve, even at an individual level.
This doesn’t mean that it can’t be done, though. We’ve discussed a few ways to fight racial discrimination in this article, and there’s more out there. For instance, the HR department may have a few things to say about what’s going on.
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