A Guide to Dealing with Discrimination in the Workplace
No one wants to think that their workplace could be a place where they could be discriminated against. However, it does happen more than we might think. If you feel like you have been discriminated against, here are some of the things you should do to deal with the situation.
Approach the Situation with a Level Head
When you have received discrimination of some sort, it is important that you try to keep a level head. You are no doubt going to be very angry and hurt, but lashing out is not going to be the way to go. Unfortunately, you could only make your situation worse for yourself.
Instead, you need to focus on keeping calm and thinking clearly about what you have experienced. If possible, start to gather your evidence that you can use to create your case.
Remove yourself from the situation as best as you can to avoid repeated acts of discrimination. In a work environment, this can be very difficult. However, you need to keep the emphasis on maintaining your physical and mental health as best as you can.
Report to an Authority Figure
You need to make sure that the discrimination is reported to the relevant authority figure within your organisation. Depending on the structure of your workplace, this could be a line manager, someone in HR, or even the company’s director if it is a smaller workforce.
They should be able to help you with your issue and should work towards a solution that best suits you. Though it can be difficult to make this report, it is important that you do so, as it means that you can begin to move towards closure and a better working environment for you overall.
Speak to a Lawyer
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your report from the company, you can decide to take it externally. For example, if you feel like the business is sweeping your discrimination away instead of confronting it and making changes, you might want to go elsewhere to get the closure that you want.
One option is to go to an employment lawyer such as www.springhouselaw.com. They will be able to advise you on the next steps you should take. For example, you might want to take your employer to a tribunal to get compensation or a better result that you might receive from trying to deal with things internally.
You deserve to have a workplace that you feel safe in – no matter what. If you have been subject to a discriminatory act, no matter how minor, you need to make sure that you are doing everything in your power to fight back and receive justice.
Never be afraid to approach someone higher up the company with a complaint when you have been treated this way. What’s more, you can always head to an experienced employment lawyer if you feel you have not had a favourable outcome thus far.
