Every employee in the workplace has the right to be protected from different types discrimination such as ace, gender, age, disability, religion, or beliefs. To protect their rights, numerous regulations and laws have been made in this field. Despite the fact that workplace discrimination is a serious issue that is being addressed, it can still occur in the workplace.
To minimize discrimination in the workplace and know what to do in this situation, as Istanbul Lawyer Firm, we offer you all the necessary information and related services. In cases of discriminatory practices, you can always contact Istanbul Lawyer Firm.
What is Workplace Discrimination?
Discriminatory practices in the workplace are defined as the unfair or unequal treatment of individuals or groups in an organization based on particular protected characteristics or attributes. It occurs when an employee's employment status, job duties, opportunities, or working environment are negatively affected by an employer's or coworker's discriminatory practices because of that person's membership in a protected category.
If discriminatory practices in the workplace are not recognized and not prevented, severe cases such as workplace harassment can occur over time. Such practices can lead to long-lasting harm to individuals and organizations alike. It negatively impacts employees' well-being, productivity, and job satisfaction.
Types of Discrimination in the Workplace
There are several types of discrimination in the workplace, which in general can be direct or indirect. When people are treated unfairly or differently due to their protected characteristics, this is known as direct discrimination.
Indirect discrimination occurs when a rule, practice, or requirement at work seems neutral but negatively impacts people’s protected characteristics. Other types of discriminatory practices in the workplace include the violation of protected characteristics, which are stated below.
Race Discrimination
- Racial slurs.
- Offensive comments about one’s race.
- Not getting hired for a job due to one’s racial background, despite meeting all the requirements and qualifications.
Religious Discrimination
- Not getting hired for a job due to one’s religious beliefs or practices, despite meeting all the requirements and qualifications.
- Rejecting religious holidays, without valid business justification.
- The strict enforcement of a dress code policy forbids religious clothes like hijab or turban.
- Putting pressure on employees to modify or hide their religious clothes or symbols to conform to the workplace culture.
Disability Discrimination
- Not hiring qualified employees due to their disabilities.
- Making fun of one’s disability in the workplace.
Pregnancy Discrimination
- Refusing to hire female employees due to their pregnancy or plans to become pregnant.
- Making negative comments about an employee’s pregnancy.
- Not providing additional breaks or less physically demanding tasks for pregnant employees.
Age Discrimination
- Not hiring employees due to their age.
- Being subject to age-related comments or jokes due to being a younger or older employee.
- Being subject to layoffs due to being young or older in the workplace.
Gender Discrimination
- Unequal pay between women and men who have the same experience or job title.
- Offensive comments, jokes, or sexual harassment due to one’s gender, especially towards female employees.
National Origin Discrimination
- Not getting hired for a job due to national origin.
- Making offensive comments or making fun of someone in the workplace due to their national origin.
- Enforcing specific language requirements that are not necessary for effective job performance.
How to Identify Discrimination in the Workplace?
Even though identifying discrimination in the workplace can be challenging, it is possible to recognize potential signs and indicators. First of all, you can identify workplace discrimination during a job interview.
This early sign of discrimination in the workplace includes asking inappropriate questions or making offensive comments about age, race, gender, or disability during the interview. Knowing the laws and regulations that protect against it can also assist you identify it in the workplace.
Thus, in the case of discriminatory practices, you will be able to know which law or rule is being violated and, if necessary, take legal action. Besides, knowing different types of discriminatory practices in the workplace can help you detect it. It can be direct, indirect, or in different fields like rage, gender, age, or pregnancy.
Paying attention to unfair treatment is another way of identifying discrimination in the workplace. Being aware of how employees are given different treatment based on their protected characteristics and looking for inequalities in promotions, payments, or job assignments can help you identify it as well.
The Organizations That Protect Against Discrimination in Turkey
There are organizations that protect against discriminatory practices and create equal opportunities in the workplace in Turkey. For instance, Turkish Labour Law regulates employment discrimination, especially Law No. 4857, Article 5. It states that unfair treatment of a person in the workplace is prohibited on the basis of language, race, gender, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion, gender, or other similar considerations.
In addition, The Turkish Employment Agency, known as İŞKUR, aims to make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity at employment, regardless of ethnic background, gender, disability, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion, or similar factors. It follows job advertisements to make sure they comply with equal employment opportunity guidelines.
If you need a Turkish lawyer firm that can help you with cases of discrimination in the workplace, you can contact Istanbul Lawyer Firm. Our qualified and experienced lawyers in Turkey are ready to assist you in the legal processes required in such cases in your workplace.
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