In the state of Missouri, it is against the law to engage in any type of discrimination in the workplace. This law includes racial discrimination. It is upheld by the Missouri Human Rights Act, and legally protects discrimination that has a basis in race, color or religion.
If you believe that you have been a victim of racial discrimination in the workplace, it is important that you are able to identify it, then take the correct steps in order to protect yourself, and get justice.
What does the law protect me from?
When it comes to racial discrimination, the law protects all people from being treated negatively due to their race, color or religion. This holds true in many different work-related environments, including the hiring process, the firing process, recruitment, salary, project assignment, training and benefits.
How do I know if I have been victim to workplace racial discrimination?
It can be difficult to identify racial discrimination, especially during the hiring and firing processes. This is because employers do not need to give a reason as to why they hired or fired a person. However, it is always illegal for an employer to make a decision like this based upon the racial or religious characteristics of another.
Some red flag indicators include a situation when the employer or coworker asks an intrusive question or makes a comment about your religion, color or race, especially in a formal meeting or interview environment.
It is also possible for investigations to take place in a workplace to see if there is an institutional practice of underpaying workers of a certain race, or of segregating employees of a certain race.
What about racial harassment?
In addition to racial discrimination, which is more concerned with the way that administrative decisions are made in a company, it is also illegal for a person in a company to create a hostile environment in the workplace. This could mean the telling of racial jokes, offensive racial comments or bullying. There should be zero tolerance for this type of behavior in the workplace.
If you believe that you are being treated unfairly in your workplace because of your race, color or religion, it is very important that you can identify some specifics, and that you take action so that justice can be done.
