Discrimination in the Workplace

What Does Discrimination in the Workplace Look Like?

Here are some examples:

• Listing preferred candidates in a job advertisement or excluding potential job applicants based on race, age, gender, etc.
• Denying compensation, benefits, or promotions to certain employees, or demonstrating bias when conducting layoffs
• Paying different salaries to employees in the same position with similar qualifications
• Assigning abnormal leave for a disability, workplace injury, parental leave, or denying retirement options
• Making it difficult to use company facilities, or outright denying access

If you’ve experienced any of these situations, it’s important to contact an experienced Workplace Discrimination Attorney to help protect your rights.

Discrimination During the Hiring Process

Employment discrimination can also happen during the hiring process. You could potentially lose out on appropriate compensation, be denied a transfer or promotion, and more. It is illegal for employers to discriminate against job applicants based on their race, gender, pregnancy, religion, or any other part of their identity that qualifies them as part of a protected class. Additionally, employers cannot ask you certain questions or deny access to information, such as salary or benefits.

Discrimination vs. Harassment

Discrimination refers to the unfair treatment of individuals or groups based on certain protected characteristics, such as race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin. In Washington state, discrimination in the workplace is prohibited by both state and federal laws, including the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Employers are legally obligated to provide equal opportunities and treatment to all employees, regardless of their protected status.

On the other hand, harassment involves unwelcome conduct that creates a hostile or intimidating work environment for an individual or group. This conduct may include verbal, physical, or visual actions that target protected characteristics, such as derogatory comments, offensive jokes, or unwanted advances. Washington state law prohibits harassment based on the same protected characteristics as discrimination, and employers have a duty to prevent and address harassment in the workplace.