Minority discrimination targets people in a protected class. Most cases of minority discrimination target employees based on race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, and LGBTQ status. The following examples show how minority discrimination appears in the workplace.
Gender: You are an excellent employee. You constantly receive amazing employee reviews stating that you exceed expectations. You have received four promotions throughout your career at your company.
You are in line for an executive position. However, your boss has never promoted a woman to an executive position. He does not intend to start now, so he promotes a clearly less qualified male than you for the position.
National Origin: English is your second language. You came to America from Mexico when you were fifteen years old. Your parents only spoke Spanish in your home. It is much easier for you to communicate in Spanish.
Whenever someone else in the office speaks Spanish, you revert to speaking Spanish in your private conversations. Your supervisor writes you up because you are not speaking English in the workplace, even though you are involved in a private conversation.
Race: You are one of the most qualified accountants in your firm. You help most high-income clients with their quarterly business returns because you are an expert in your field.
A new client asked to work with “the best accountant” the firm has on staff. When she meets you, she asks for another accountant. You are African American, and she makes it clear she will not work with anyone who is not “white.”
Religion: You wear a yarmulke to work every day. Your coworker constantly tells you to take off the “beanie.”
You told him his comments were offensive. You have reported him to HR. He has not stopped harassing you for your Jewish traditions.
LGBTQ: You post pictures of your boyfriend and you in your cubicle. Your coworker calls you horrible names because you are also a man. He does not like anyone who is gay.
You ask to move to another cubicle on the other side of the office. Your employer denies your request and does not reprimand your coworker either. You feel it is impossible to work under these hostile work conditions, so you quit your job.
Derek Smith
3 min. read
Derek Smith