All people have equal rights, life opportunities, as well as responsibilities in an ideal society, despite what race they belong to, or their gender. Nevertheless, in the present world, people face different types of neglect on the basis of various attributes. There are many individuals who treat others with different degrees of prejudice as a result of specific characteristics that they possess. Regrettably, this takes place even in places where, by means of definition, ought to be free of all individual prejudices – particularly, in offices as well as other business environments. This occurrence is referred to as workplace discrimination. However, not all unfair behavior at the place of work can be termed as discrimination. 

Therefore, what precisely is workplace discrimination? Fundamentally, workplace discrimination refers to a treatment that is less favorable towards a person or a group of persons on the basis of defining attributes such as nationality, color of skin, trade union activity, or marital status (Maine). It might seem as a refutation of specific rights, neglectful treatment, intentional undervaluing of the personality of a worker, or his or her achievements. Discrimination in the workplace against an individual may be carried out by either employers or co-workers.

The effects of workplace discrimination can be traumatizing to the individual who are being discriminated against. Discrimination may lead to serious psychological effects on the victim, for instance, emotional stress, as well as anxiety. In many situations, discrimination makes employees to leave their places of work, resign from a particular position, or worse still, commit suicide or portray violent behaviors against those who are discriminating him or her.

Workplace discrimination may take more open as well as threatening forms, which are typically referred to as workplace harassment. This form of discrimination occurs where some sort of discrimination makes an employee to become intimidated, humiliated, or insulted, on the basis of features such as race, gender, ethnicity, or other features. The major forms of workplace harassment by individuals include the use of physical violence as well as sexual harassment. Women, at most times, are prone to such forms of discrimination. Violence at the place of work may take several forms such as the direct use of physical force in opposition to a worker that may result into a worker inflicting injury onto another individual. Any attempt to apply such type of physical force by a worker in the workplace can rationally be interpreted as a threat to use physical force (Mania). In the workplace, sexual harassment may take the form of explicit jokes as well as allusions; unpleasant body contacts; incongruous gestures, or direct actions that are aimed at sexual contact.

Workplace discrimination may be dealt with by use of some measures. Such measures may be applied on a person or on a group of persons. In most workplaces, it is recommended that anyone facing whatever sort of discrimination, or even harassment, to stand firm in the case of verbal attacks, as well as remain confident regarding their individual capacities. Employees are as well encouraged to report such cases to the management of their respective organizations.

Regrettably, we do not reside in an ideal society, and as a result, it is not everyone who can enjoy equivalent opportunities as well as rights. This is particularly significant in the working environment as. To get rid of such workplace discrimination, both individual as well as collective precautionary measures ought to be made.