Workplace discrimination cases often feel unique. The person who is targeting you is doing it because of a factor that is fundamentally part of who you are. That is a personal affront, and you should be frustrated and outraged by that type of treatment.
At the same time, though, you can fit most discrimination cases into specific categories. This doesn’t mean every case has the exact same factors, but each one is a distinct type of discrimination. The main ones are:
- Sexual harassment
- Gender discrimination
- Age discrimination
- Pregnancy discrimination
- Discrimination over sexual orientation
- Religious discrimination
- Discrimination over your national origin
- Race discrimination
- Discrimination based on skin color
- Discrimination against parents
- Disability discrimination
On top of that, you can have retaliation or reprisals as an example of discrimination against those who are standing up for their rights. For instance, perhaps you witness racial discrimination in the workplace, whether it targets you or not. You complain to your boss or to human resources. Then they fire you so as not to have to deal with the complaint, assuming they can hire someone else who either will not know or will not care about what is going on. That is unequal treatment and can count as illegal discrimination, even when it started with another type and perhaps even another employee.
No matter what type of discrimination you face, make sure you know exactly what rights you have. In the United States, all workers deserve to be treated in the same way. That is the true definition of workplace equality, and those who do not experience it may be able to take legal action.
