Any workplace can experience employment discrimination. Indeed, according to a 2019 Glassdoor research, almost 60% of American workers have either witnessed or experienced workplace discrimination. Additionally, over a million workers have complained to the government about employment discrimination in the last ten years, as per reports from the Washington Post.

A person may be fired for the color of their skin or denied employment due to their sexual orientation, among other forms of discrimination. Sometimes harassment or prejudice is obvious and blatant. It may, however, be more covert in other situations, leaving the victim unsure of whether their rights have really been infringed upon and unsure of how to prove this.

Hayber, McKenna, & Dinsmore, a law firm, reveals that workplace discrimination has become extremely common. Here’s how to deal with it. 

Consult a lawyer

The first thing you should do if you believe you are the victim of discrimination at work is to get legal advice right away. A knowledgeable employment attorney will guide you through this tricky legal area while taking into consideration your unique circumstances. Statutory coverage, the relationship between federal and state laws, filing procedures, obtaining proof, and retribution are just a few of the complex problems at hand. It is a good idea to get in touch with a lawyer right away so that you can receive legal advice while proceeding with the case.

• Inform your employer

Inform your employer that you believe you are experiencing harassment or discrimination. It's possible that a large number of unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination go unreported or unpunished because the victim fails to express how inappropriate and unwanted the behavior is. It is rare that employers will quickly acknowledge that they have engaged in harassment or discrimination and assist you in preparing legal documents against them. Moving forward alone won’t be of much help.

Request a written report

Inform your employer that you are giving this issue careful thought. Whenever you report a harassment or discrimination occurrence, request that a documented report be prepared. Request that the offenders face disciplinary or corrective action in addition to having your claims looked into. It is legally mandated for employers to promptly investigate any allegations of harassment or discrimination.

• Assemble all records

Note down in your journal any instances of harassment or prejudice. Note the time and date of the inappropriate behavior or comments, along with the location, parties, witnesses, and specifics of the incident. Additionally, save any items or pictures that were handed to you, displayed, or left for you at work that you feel are harassing or discriminatory. Before removing or shifting the offending item, snap a picture of it for your attorney's reference at a later time. 

It makes sense that discrimination and harassment are serious problems that shouldn't be ignored. Allegations of discrimination may result in internal issues and conflicts within the organization, government inquiries, and expensive legal disputes. A business can even go out of business if the complaint is handled improperly. So, take it seriously to avoid a lawsuit and maintain amicable employee relations.