Even though you should never have to worry about gender discrimination at your place of employment, you realize this could happen at some point. If it does, you shouldn't sit back and assume it's okay. Instead, it's important to take action to protect your legal rights.
Many employees ignore gender discrimination because they don't want to "rock the boat." They assume it's better to have a job than to say something that could result in their termination (despite the fact that this is against the law).
Here are a few examples of gender discrimination at work:
- The hiring process: Maybe you apply for a job as a salesperson, but come to find that the company didn't hire you because they're more comfortable working with professionals who are men. This shows that gender discrimination during the hiring process is very real.
- Termination: There are many legitimate reasons why you could lose your job, but gender discrimination is not one of them. For instance, your employer says you lost your job because of cut backs, just to find that people of the opposite sex, in the same position with less experience, were not let go.
- Promotion: You work hard at your job with the hope of receiving a promotion at some point. Not only does this result in more responsibility, but it can lead to higher pay as well. However, when the time comes, you find that you missed out in favor of someone of the opposite sex, even though they don't have the same qualifications.
- Pay: Everyone wants to earn a fair wage, but this doesn't always happen. It's not uncommon for one gender -- statistically, men -- to be paid more for the same job.
If you notice gender discrimination at work, you need to take immediate action. You can start by bringing it to the attention of your supervisor and/or the HR department. This may be all you need to do to clear the air and find a solution.
If that doesn't work, it's time to better understand your legal rights and the steps you can take to protect them. You don't want to be pushed around because of your gender, as this can detrimentally impact your life in a ripple effect of ways if you don't stand up for what is fair and just in the workplace.