Finding out that you’re being discriminated against at work leaves you feeling… pretty stuck.
It’s one thing to know something isn’t quite right. That doesn’t mean you know what to do about it. Perhaps your manager keeps treating you differently from your colleagues. Maybe you’ve been overlooked for a promotion, despite having the experience. Or some has made comments about a protected characteristic – age, disability, and the like.
Then there’s the awkward part. You still have to go back to work.
It’s understandable if you don’t want to make the situation worse. No one does. You could be worried about what your manager will say, how your colleagues will react, or whether making a complaint could affect your job.
That doesn’t mean you have to sit back and put up with it, though.
Keep reading on to learn what you can do.
Document Absolutely Everything
If something happens, write it down.
This is probably the least complicated thing you can do. It becomes very important later on. Make a note of what happened while it’s fresh in your memory. Include these key details:
- The date,
- Where it happened,
- Who was there,
- And what was said or done.
Don’t worry about making it sound official. These are your notes. Write them in a way that makes sense to you.
Keep any emails, messages, letters, or other documents that relate to what you’re experiencing. If your manager says one thing in person and something different in an email, keep the email.
You may start to notice that certain things keep happening. Or you may realize that an incident you initially dismissed was actually part of a much bigger pattern.
That’s difficult to see when you’re dealing with each situation individually.
Report the Discrimination Internally
At some point, you may decide that your employer needs to know what’s happening.
How you do this will depend on the workplace. Some companies have an HR department. Others might ask you to speak to your manager or another person responsible for handling complaints.
Have a look at your company’s policies before you make a complaint. There may already be a process you need to follow.
When you do report it, explain what has actually happened. Give examples. Include dates if you have them. If you’ve been keeping notes, this is where they can come in handy.
You don’t need to work out exactly which laws your employer has broken before you say anything. You’re just raising a concern at this point. You’re giving your employer the chance to respond.
Keep whatever you sent and any response you receive.
File a Charge with External Agencies
If going through your employer hasn’t worked, there may be another route available.
In the US, you might be able to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – otherwise known as the EEOC. Whether that’s the right option will depend on what happened and the type of discrimination involved.
There is one thing you shouldn’t do, though:
Assume you can leave it until later. You can’t.
There are often deadlines for filing a charge. Missing one could affect your ability to pursue the matter. The rules aren’t necessarily the same for every situation, either.
For anyone unsure, an employment attorney could help. They’ll work through it with you. Be sure to look for a lawyer in your area, though, as they will have the knowledge of state and federal laws. For example, the advice from legal representation for Idaho workers might differ from that in Colorado.
To conclude, facing discrimination at work is tough – more than at times. This is why you shouldn’t fight it alone. With these steps, you can seek the resolution you want and protect yourself when doing so.