Everyone can experience bias; however, if personal biases lead to discrimination decisions in the workplace, this behavior can be unlawful. Sadly, workplace discrimination is common and can be difficult to identify. Every worker in New Jersey has legal protections against workplace discrimination; however, what can you do to protect yourself at work? Here are tips you should consider:
Understand Your Rights
To protect yourself against workplace discrimination, you must arm yourself with adequate information about your employee rights. State and federal laws are in place to prohibit discrimination based on protected classes such as race, age, gender, pregnancy, disability, and sexual orientation. If you have been experiencing discrimination at work, you should seek legal advice to know your options and rights.
Workplace discrimination can take a lot of forms; however, you can more easily notice it if you know the law. Employers in New Jersey cannot terminate a worker because they become pregnant. Also, managers can’t refuse to provide a worker with a promotion because of their religious beliefs. You can’t get less pay than what your co-workers receive due to your disability.
Collect Related Evidence
If you think you are a victim of workplace discrimination, you should gather evidence of such behaviors. You must have proof of the unjust treatment to bring a legal claim against your boss. You should collect direct evidence and circumstantial evidence to support your claim. You can use emails, performance reviews, and statements from co-workers are evidence.
Take Notes
Ensure you keep a record of the specific details surrounding the discriminatory behaviors, so write down all instances while you can still remember them. Include details such as the date and time of the incident, the individuals involved, and the discriminatory behavior. If the discriminatory events are repeated, it’s particularly essential to keep a record of them.
Report the Discrimination
After being discriminated against at work, you must speak up. Allow the HR department or your manager to know about what you have been going through at work. Reporting instances of discrimination to your employer is vital in protecting yourself. If you think it’s not safe to report the incident to anyone at work, you can file a complaint with the EEOC.
If you have been discriminated against at work, you may feel belittled, intimidated, and alone. Thankfully, you can rely on an employment or discrimination attorney for help and support. The right attorney will support you through each stage of your case.
