N
The Global Insight

What is meant by workplace discrimination?

Author

John Johnson

Updated on March 29, 2026

uncountable noun. Discrimination is the practice of treating one person or group of people less fairly or less well than other people or groups.

What does discrimination in the workplace look like?

When an employer, supervisor, or co-worker treats an employee unfairly because of their age, skin color, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or disability, they are committing an act of discrimination. Being discriminated against in the workplace can make for a miserable experience.

Is it hard to prove discrimination at work?

Proving employment discrimination can often be difficult because evidence of discrimination tends to be hard to come by. However, there are a few ways wronged employees can make their claims in court and get their case in front of a jury.

Is being singled out at work discrimination?

If an employee believes there is illegal discrimination, he or she should report it to the EEOC or to his/her state’s equal or civil rights agency. But unless there is illegal discrimination or a breach of contract, an employee may be singled out for different treatment.

What is employee discrimination and how to avoid it?

Definition, Concept & How to Avoid It Employee discrimination, as the name suggests, is all about discrimination among the employees based on a number of factors. Though the discrimination is very much unlawful there are a number of organizations that still conduct such activities and create an unhealthy environment for the employees.

How is subtle discrimination used in the workplace?

Subtle discrimination can come in such forms as jokes told in the break room or hiring a token employee, which is someone who is made representative of a particular group used to try to prove you aren’t discriminatory.

Which is an example of racial discrimination in the workplace?

Racial discrimination also covers the poor treatment of a person based on his or her marriage to someone of a certain race, or association with a certain racial group. Racial discrimination may be perpetrated by an employer toward an employee or applicant of the same race, or against an employee or applicant of a different race.

What are the damages for discrimination in the workplace?

Damages in a civil lawsuit for workplace discrimination are generally financial in nature, and may include compensatory damages, back pay to the employee, and punitive damages. Such an employer may also be ordered to reinstate a wrongfully terminated employee.