The Equal Pay Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act are all federal laws that protect employees from workplace discrimination. On the state level, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination is a state law that protects employees in New Jersey from discrimination. However, despite there being all these laws, discrimination in the workplace is a problem that has refused to go away.
Unfortunately, discrimination can have several adverse effects on an employee. Below, we discuss some of the effects of discrimination on employees.
Understanding How Workplace Discrimination Affects Employees
Employees who go through discrimination in the workplace may suffer from high stress levels. When an employee experiences a lot of stress because of discrimination, they may end up with other problems. For example, high stress levels are known to reduce the quality of a person’s sleep. Overthinking can also result in under-eating or over-eating. If an employee is not getting enough sleep and/or over-eating or under-eating, they may become ill.
An employee who is facing discrimination in the workplace may miss work to escape discrimination, which might result in them falling behind on deadlines. Unfortunately, when an employee is absent from work for a long time, they will have a huge workload to deal with when they return to work.
An employee facing discrimination in the workplace may find it hard to interact with co-workers and/or customers. Such an employee may find it challenging to have a friendly conversation or even smile with co-workers and/or customers.
Lastly, apart from suffering from stress, employees who face discrimination in the workplace often have to deal with other emotional issues. For example, an employee might develop low self-esteem and start wondering why they are in that position.
Fighting Workplace Discrimination
Discrimination in the workplace affects employees in many other different ways. That is why the number one goal for all employees should be fighting discrimination in the workplace. Even if you are not the one being discriminated against, you should stick up for a co-worker who is facing discrimination.
What does the term “discrimination” really mean? According to the EEOC, which is the federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing civil rights laws against discrimination, when an employee is discriminated against, it means they are treated differently or less favorably because of their race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.
The laws enforced by EEOC protect employees from employment discrimination when it involves the following;
- Harassment
- Unfair treatment
- Denial of a reasonable accommodation
- Improper questions about or disclosure of an employee’s medical or genetic information
- Retaliation
In conclusion, it is crucial to note that an employee who is a victim of discrimination may have legal recourse. For example, if an employer is found guilty of discriminating against an employee, they may be required to compensate the employee. As it pertains to retaliation, if, for example, an employer wrongfully fires an employee, the employer may be required to re-hire the person. An attorney can help an employee who has faced discrimination in the workplace understand their legal options.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you or someone you know has been a victim of workplace discrimination, contact the Trabosh Law Firm today at (856) 874-8840 to schedule a free consultation.