Change Your World Week Winter 2024 (Archived)

Discrimination in the workplace has always been present, and it comes in many different forms. While anti-discrimination laws exist, the persistence of subtle biases and the challenges of proving discriminatory intent create a landscape where workplace discrimination remains a pervasive issue that hinders equality, economic opportunity, and overall employee well-being.

Discrimination in the workplace is defined as an employer treating individuals with more favorable or less favorable based on a person’s race, religion, sex, religion, disability or status as a protected veteran. Workplace discrimination can effect any anyone, it does is portrayed in many different ways. In 2023 a survey was conducted based on the most prevalent type of discrimination cases in America and 91% of employees stated that they have been discriminated against in the workplace. This is what the study found (Fenton, 2024).

• Disability: 25,004 or 34% of cases
• Race: 20,992 or 28.6% of cases
• Sex: 19,805 or 27% of cases
• Age: 11,500 or 15.6% of cases
• National Origin: 5,500 or 7.5% of cases
• Color: 4,088 or 5.6% of cases
• Religion: 13,814 or 18.8% of cases
• Equal Pay Act: 955 or 1.3% of cases

People of color are wildly known to be discriminated against and are thought to be lesser due to stereotypes that are placed around them solely based the color of their skin. I have seen first hand how these stereotypes and discrimination have effected the amount of work that is being completed which in turn creates a vicious cycle with people of color being underestimated. Not only are they underestimated they are fired for with no explanation "blacks are nearly twice as likely to be laid off than whites, a difference that could not be explained by conventional measures, such as seniority or education.(Desmond pg. 140). 

A persons sex is also a huge topic of discussion for those who get discriminated against. As seen in the study above a persons sex is number three on the list of cases reported. Mainly woman have struggled with equal pay or simply not getting offered a position because it is thought that a man could do it better. According to the U.S. Department of Labor it takes a woman 15 months to earn the same amount as a man would in 12 months (Equal Pay Day).

Coming in at number one on the most cases are those who have a disability. A study found that "76% of employees with disabilities in the survey report not fully disclosing their disabilities at work"(Henneborn, 2021). This shows me that those who have a disability are likely afraid to disclose this information due to the fear of being treated differently or being fired.

As a society we need to work together to mitigate workplace discrimination. Below is a list from Advocating for Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace: An agenda for anti-racist learning organizations that can help us to get started.

• ∙ "A voice that is heard,
•  Access to information necessary for success,
•  Productive links to other co-workers and management,
•  The chance to contribute, and ∙
• The opportunity to advance professionally" (Bohnonos pg.94).

It is important to speak up and say something when discrimination in the work place happens to you or someone you know. The first steps to fighting against workplace discrimination is to let someone else know what is happening. There are many laws to protect people from unequal opportunities. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for example states that "it is unlawful to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race or color in regard to hiring, promotion, compensation, job training, or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment" (Facts about Race/Color Discrimination, 1977). This is one of many acts that will help to protect you. It is important that you educate yourself to be able to protect yourself.

Bohonos, J. W. & Sisco, S. (2021). Advocating for social justice, equity, and inclusion in the workplace: an agenda for anti-racist learning organizations. New Directions in Adult and Continuing Education, 2021, p. 89-98.

“Equal Pay Day 2023: Department of Labor Initiatives Seek to Close Gender, Racial Wage Gap, Increase Equity in Federal Programs.” DOL, 14 Mar. 2023, www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20230314.

Desmond, Matthew, and Mustafa Emirbayer. Race in America. 2nd ed., W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2020.

Fenton, Matthew K. “Employment Discrimination Statistics in 2022.” Wenzel Fenton Cabassa, P.A., 22 Mar. 2024, www.wenzelfenton.com/blog/2024/03/22/employment-discrimination-statistics-employees-need-to-know/#:~:text=In%20a%202023%20survey%2C%2091,information%20to%20protect%20their%20rights.

Henneborn, Laurie. “Make It Safe for Employees to Disclose Their Disabilities.” Harvard Business Review, 13 Sept. 2021, hbr.org/2021/06/make-it-safe-for-employees-to-disclose-their-disabilities.

Pope, Jennifer. “What Is Retaliation in the Workplace.” Work Shield, 19 July 2023, workshield.com/what-is-retaliation-in-the-workplace-retaliation/.

This technical assistance document was issued upon approval of the Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “Facts about Race/Color Discrimination.” US EEOC, 15 Jan. 1997, www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/facts-about-racecolor-discrimination.                                                       

Wingfield, Adia, and Koji Chavez. “[PDF] Getting in, Getting Hired, Getting Sideways Looks: Organizational ...” American Sociological Review, 2020, www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Getting-In%2C-Getting-Hired%2C-Getting-Sideways-Looks%3A-Wingfield-Chavez/06f56d606240aa73cb99a6de921ed68055b70657.