Most Michigan residents are aware of the various forms of harassment and discrimination. In the U.S., there are laws that forbid workplace discrimination based on color, race, sex, pregnancy, disability, religion and much more. Local laws also give the same forms of protection. But what should an employee do if he or she is subjected to workplace discrimination?
The first thing that you should do if you feel you are being subjected to workplace discrimination is to notify your employer. You should let them know that you feel harassed. In many cases, workplace discrimination goes unnoticed it is never brought to the attention of the victim’s employer. The employer is accountable for abiding by the law, but unless an employer knows your personal rights are being violated, nothing will be done. Second, you need to convey to the organization that you take the harassment seriously. You need to ask that an investigation be conducted.
In all cases of harassment and workplace discrimination, it is the duty of the employer to give due diligence to an employee’s report. If you feel that the employer is not giving due consideration to your report, you may contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This body has the right to oversee all laws related to harassment and workplace discrimination.
You should also keep a log of all incidents related to harassment. It is important to record the date and the time of the event. You should also go through the company’s anti-discrimination policies so that you have a clear picture of the workplace discrimination policies. You should also review State and Federal laws in the arena pertaining to workplace discrimination.
Source: FindLaw, “Dealing with Discrimination: Tips for Employees,” accessed on Aug. 19, 2014
Source: FindLaw, “Dealing with Discrimination: Tips for Employees,” accessed on Aug. 19, 2014