Discrimination in employment law refers to the unfair treatment of employees or job applicants based on their personal characteristics, such as race, sex, age, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. Discrimination is generally illegal in most countries and is a violation of human rights.
In the workplace, discrimination can take many forms, such as:
- Refusing to hire or promote an individual based on their personal characteristics
- Treating an employee differently than other employees based on their personal characteristics
- Harassing an employee based on their personal characteristics, such as sexual harassment
- Paying an employee less than other employees based on their personal characteristics
- Firing an employee based on their personal characteristics, such as their age or disability.
Employment discrimination is often prohibited by law, and employees who believe they have been discriminated against may be able to bring a claim against their employer. The specific legal requirements for proving discrimination and bringing a claim will vary depending on the jurisdiction and the applicable law. In general, however, employees must be able to show that they were treated unfairly based on a protected characteristic, and that the employer’s actions were intentional or had a discriminatory impact. If successful, the employee may be able to receive compensation or other remedies.