There’s no place in any workplace for discrimination. We all deserve an equal and just opportunity to pursue our dreams and see the fruits of our labor regardless of race, skin color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, nationality, age, disability, or marital status.
Federal and local laws protect people from all walks of life from being discriminated against in the workplace. The rules apply regardless of how a manager uses their power. Whether it is to avoid diversity or to promote diversity, the law will protect you and your coworkers.
So, what are some ways you can stand up to and prevent discrimination in your workplace?
Let your work speak for itself
At Feldman Legal Group, we understand hard work and doing what it takes to get the job done. Ultimately, this is your best avenue to preventing discrimination against you. Working hard and producing high-quality results for your company will be your best protection against discrimination. This gives you a bulletproof defense should you feel any decisions are made that leave you out because of discrimination.
It’s important to know that hard work won’t end all discrimination. Sadly, some managers and workplaces will still discriminate even against the best and brightest workers. Working hard just sets you up for success in standing your ground should the day ever come that you need to defend yourself and your qualifications.
Recognize discrimination
This is a key step. We sadly see many cases where people point out discrimination when it’s not actually there. Workplace discrimination is specifically any decision made in the workplace based on anything other than a worker’s qualifications, fit, and availability for the role. If someone is hired, fired, promoted, demoted, punished, or rewarded because of the color of their skin, their religion, or any other personal trait that has no impact on their qualification then that’s discrimination.
These cases can be career-defining and often get a fair amount of media attention. That’s why it’s important for you to understand the laws in Florida. The Florida Commission on Human Relations is a good resource to understand the laws here and often updates whenever federal laws change. We recently talked about the Supreme Court granting workplace protections to LGBTQ workers, as well.
Speak up, even if you’re not the victim
At the end of the day, it can be hard to speak for yourself when your boss belittles you or railroads your career because of personal beliefs. That’s why being a good coworker could mean you need to step in when these things happen to others.
Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge of what workplace discrimination looks like, we want you to be the voice your colleagues need by their side. Whistleblower retaliation is illegal and you can take your workplace to court if you’re punished for stepping up and doing the right thing.
The best way to make sure you’re prepared to defend yourself against discrimination is to have the right lawyer by your side. At Feldman Legal Group, we have the knowledge, experience, and expertise to fight for you. Contact us today and don’t let your hard work go unnoticed.
