Discrimination in the workplace takes many different forms. You may witness your employer discriminating against employees based on disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, age or other factors. Regardless of the reason for the discrimination, a hostile work environment as defined by the law is illegal.
Although many employees experience workplace discrimination, not all feel comfortable or empowered to speak up or speak out against the behavior. They may fear retaliation, such as loss of promotions and pay raises, or even termination. However, speaking up is essential. Consider these three reasons you should stand up for what is right.
1. You are probably not the only one
It is likely that your employer has shown a pattern of perpetrating or allowing discrimination against numerous employees, not just against you. You should speak up because you can help those who are fearful of advocating for themselves. Your action may even inspire others to join you. You can and should take action if you witness harassment or discrimination.
2. The law protects you and your rights
While you may have many fears about taking action against your employer, the reality is that the law offers you various protections for doing so. You should not feel you must endure inappropriate behavior or mistreatment. And you should not feel forced to quit.
3. The company or employer will not protect employees
You most likely cannot rely only on your supervisor or your company’s human resources department to stand up for you and your rights. There are many dynamics in a workplace that may prevent a human resources officer or department from taking all the necessary actions to fully stop the problem of discrimination. While this should not prevent you from reporting the harassment according to your workplace policies, it is also another reason why you can feel empowered to address the situation with the help of an attorney.