Discrimination in the Workplace

The workplace is where employees spend the majority of their day, often with the same people. Though employees may get along, there can still be issues regarding discrimination in the workplace, especially since everyone has their own thoughts and opinions about the world.  These differences can ultimately lead to conflict and might be expressed through the unfair treatment of someone based on their intrinsic characteristics. There are several common discrimination categories:

• Race and/or Ethnicity

• Gender

• Age

• Sexual Orientation

• Pregnancy

• Disability

• Military

• Religion

This list is not all-inclusive, and if you feel discriminated against for a reason not listed above, it does not automatically mean you don’t have grounds for a claim. Speaking with an experienced attorney who has extensive knowledge of the different types of workplace discrimination cases; he or she will be able to answer your specific questions and discuss your options with you. Determining what type of discrimination you are facing at work is important—and so is speaking with a supervisor or your Human Resources representative to try to get the issue resolved. Specific discriminatory actions include but are not limited to verbal harassment, failure to promote, exclusion and isolation, compensation, and termination. Before seeking an attorney, be sure to go to a supervisor or a representative from Human Resources and let them know of the bias you are subjected to. While it may be difficult to divulge your frustration over the matter, bringing it to the attention of someone higher up may help eliminate the discrimination and see to it that the culprit is reprimanded. In fact, this is a crucial step—to have a chance at winning your case, you need to prove that you brought the matter to the attention of a supervisor or HR personnel and allow them the necessary time to address and correct the situation. However, in some cases that may be more difficult if the discrimination is perpetuated from the top of the ladder. In this case, it may be very complicated for a representative or lower supervisor to do anything substantial. That is when you should think about calling an attorney. Discrimination claims are civil matters, resulting in compensatory damages awarded to you if the claim is successful. Be forewarned, an employer will likely have a strong legal team on their side, so do not try to take on this claim solo. This is a sensitive, serious matter and you need someone with experience handling these types of issues. Mr. Kaplan is a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, a status only given to 1% of the lawyers in the state of New Jersey. His primary goal is to help you with your case. Call today for a free consultation at (973) 426-0021.