Regrettably, ethnic disparity remains a persistent issue in our society, and it manifests in various facets of life, including our workplaces. The forthcoming sections delve into some lesser-known aspects of racial discrimination that are often overlooked. If you suspect that you’ve been a victim of racial bias, reach out to PLBH at (800) 435-7542 to schedule a free consultation with a legal expert.
Racial Discrimination: A Violation of the Law
It’s crucial to remember that the law forbids employers from practicing any form of discrimination against their employees, potential employees, volunteers, or contractors on the grounds of race or ethnicity. Both Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) classify such behavior as illegal. An employer could face legal consequences for refusing to hire, demoting, underpaying, or practicing any other form of discrimination against an individual.
Decoding Racial Discrimination
Racial discrimination takes place when an individual is unjustly treated due to their race, which can encompass skin color, appearance, heritage, or birthplace. It often coincides with other forms of bias, like prejudice based on country of origin.
For instance, a supervisor may tell an employee to “return to Mexico,” insinuating a dislike for Mexicans, and then subject the employee to an unfavorable work schedule compared to their colleagues. This instance might be classified as racial, ethnic, and national origin discrimination.
The Subtler Shades of Racial Bias
While there are instances of overt racial prejudice, such as the above, racial bias can also manifest in far subtler ways. It might appear in the guise of distributing the riskier tasks to workers of a certain race or exclusively providing overtime opportunities to employees of a specific race.
Often, an employee might not realize that they are victims of racial bias until they observe similar patterns of treatment being meted out to other individuals of their race. Employment discrimination attorneys in California are skilled at identifying these patterns of bias.
Standing Up Against Racial Discrimination
Flagrant forms of racial discrimination, such as racial slurs or intimidation, are relatively easy to identify. However, more covert forms of racial discrimination might include dismissing applications with names associated with a particular race or limiting training opportunities to employees of a specific race.
Importantly, racial discrimination doesn’t exclusively target minority groups; it can impact anyone. For instance, if you’re the only white employee in an Asian-dominated workplace, you might face discrimination. If such prejudice meets the criteria of Title VII and the FEHA, you are entitled to file a claim against your employer.
At PLBH, we stand with employees who’ve suffered injustice or discrimination in their workplace. If you believe you’ve been a victim of workplace discrimination, please contact us at (800) 435-7542 to set up a consultation with an experienced California employment discrimination attorney.