Racism is pervasive in this country, and it is destroying people’s careers. In fact, race discrimination is the second most common type of employment claim. It is the first most common type of discrimination claim that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) took on in 2016, according to the Insurance Journal. Employers, be they a single boss or a boardroom of executives, are humans, too, and humans have opinions that sometimes contrast with what the law says. State and federal laws strictly prohibit any type of racism or harassment in the workplace, and employers who engage in such acts must be held accountable.
The race discrimination lawyers of HKM Employment Attorneys have over 40 years of experience defending the rights of employees and are here to help you fight cases of wrongful termination, unequal opportunities, and stagnant pay when other employees have been getting raises for the same level of work that you have consistently performed.
Your Rights in the Workplace
Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964 and Pennsylvania’s Human Rights Act both prohibit employers from engaging in any type of unfavorable employment decision when the employee’s race or perceived race has anything to do with that decision. Examples of racism in the workplace include the following:
- Purposefully not promoting Hispanic employees
- Failing to hire an African American applicant
- Not giving work benefits, such as healthcare or vacation days, to an Asian American employee
- Retaliating against an African American employee who has spoken up against racism or filed a workplace race discrimination claim
- Giving less desirable duties to an employee from of Middle Eastern descent
- Harassing or harming a Native American employee’s career trajectory
If any employment decision has been made with your race or perceived race in mind, your employer has committed a serious violation of state and federal law.
Hostile Work Environment and Workplace Harassment
Employers who engage in race discrimination have broken the law, just as employers who turn a blind eye to racism in the workplace initiated by other employees have also broken the law. All employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, or ethnicity have a right to work in a hostility-free environment. If an employer has created a hostile work environment either by harassing the employee or by not stopping other employees from engaging in racial harassment, the employer can be held responsible. Harassment includes using racial slurs, mocking or making fun of an employee, threatening an employee, physical or verbal abuse, exclusion, intimidation, and more.
You Have Rights and Our Lawyers are Here to Protect Them
Make no mistake, racism in the workplace is rampant. Most cases of race discrimination never go reported, and the employer gets away with it. But that does not have to happen to you. We implore you to reach out to the Pennsylvania race discrimination lawyers here at HKM Employment Attorneys. We can be reached today at 412-368-5754 to schedule a consultation at no cost so that you can take action at once.
