Modern workers have the protection of numerous laws. Both state and federal regulations protect workers from discrimination and harassment. Professionals should be able to focus on their careers confidently without worrying about their protected characteristics holding them back.
Both race and national origin are protected characteristics that should not influence employment determinations. Unfortunately, some businesses still discriminate against workers on the basis of their race. While racial discrimination is not necessarily as overt now as it was a few decades ago, it can still hold certain professionals back from fulfilling their ambitions. The following are some of the most common ways that racial discrimination affects modern employees.
Questionable appearance standards
Workplace appearance policies included in employment contracts or worker handbooks may contain terms that are holdovers from a generation prior. For example, employers may prohibit the use of protective hairstyles that are important to workers with naturally wavy or curly hair. Doing so may put unfair financial pressure on workers of certain racial backgrounds. Similarly, a no-beard policy enforced against male employees could cause unfair consequences for workers with darker complexions. Inappropriate appearance standards could constitute racial discrimination.
Promotion discrimination
Workers seeking advancement opportunities should receive consideration based on their merits, not on personal characteristics that are outside of their control. Unfortunately, research into corporate advancement shows that race may sometimes limit advancement opportunities. Workers may find that they can only progress to a certain point, and after that, they may struggle to continue developing their careers. When qualified workers consistently get passed over for others with fewer credentials, that could be a warning sign of discrimination.
Lost opportunities
Maybe a supervisor chooses not to assign a particularly skillful and ambitious worker to a project because of the client’s “unique” preference. Perhaps a company initially extends an employment offer to a worker, only to retract the offer when they show up in person to sign paperwork and their race becomes obvious. Businesses may choose not to hire workers because of their race or may limit what projects and sales leads they receive because of their racial background. Such choices that consider race are discriminatory in nature.
Workers should not have to accept racial discrimination to keep their jobs or obtain work. Filing a discrimination lawsuit successfully can compensate workers harmed by unfair policies and force employers to reconsider their business practices.