What is an example of indirect discrimination at work?
Asked by: Ashley Auer III | Last update: December 19, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (53 votes)
A job advert for a salesperson says applicants must have spent 10 years working in retail. The business could be discriminating indirectly based on age. This is because the advert excludes younger people who might have the skills and qualifications needed.
What is an example of indirect discrimination in the workplace?
Examples of indirect discrimination could include: Example 1: Putting out a job advert that specifies candidates must have a UK education. Example 2: Specifying that English must be a candidate's first language to apply for a job/promotion.
What can you do if your employer is discriminating against you?
Report discrimination to a local Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA). If the discrimination breaks both a state and federal law, the FEPA will also send your complaint to the EEOC. Use the EEOC's directory of field offices to find the FEPA near you.
How do you prove indirect discrimination?
Indirect or circumstantial evidence of illegal discrimination includes proof of a set of circumstances that allows the jury to reasonably believe that some impermissible factor, such as a person's age, race, color, religion, sex, marital status, gender identity or expression, national origin or physical or mental ...
How to tell HR you feel discriminated against?
You should have evidence and proof that you in fact complained and reported the discriminatory conduct. The best way to do this is to put it in writing and have some type of confirmation that you submitted it. Employees who merely “call” the HR rep and have a verbal conversation alone are at a great disadvantage.
How to spot indirect discrimination in the workplace
What not to say to HR?
- The general rule is don't bring your everyday complaints to HR. They're not there to make your job better or easier and they might fire you simply because they don't want to hear it. ...
- Discrimination. ...
- Medical needs. ...
- Pay issues. ...
- Cooperate with HR if asked, but be smart about it.
How do you prove you are being treated unfairly at work?
However, certain pieces of evidence can help you build your case, including employee records, witness statements, email notifications, pay stubs, or hiring policies. If you were wrongly treated at work due to protected categories, like age or race, it may be worth it to talk with an employment lawyer.
What is not covered by indirect discrimination?
Indirect discrimination applies to all the protected characteristics, apart from pregnancy and maternity.
How do you prove indirect proof?
- Assume the opposite of the conclusion (second half) of the statement.
- Proceed as if this assumption is true to find the contradiction.
- Once there is a contradiction, the original statement is true.
- DO NOT use specific examples.
Is it hard to prove discrimination at work?
Proving workplace discrimination in California can be one of the most difficult steps in a successful discrimination case. It can also be complex, confusing and frustrating.
What is unfair treatment at work?
making offensive comments or exposing a colleague to offensive material at work; treating one worker or group of workers less well than others in terms of pay, benefits, or privileges; terminating workers based on reasons other than performance or conduct; and. any conduct that makes someone uncomfortable at work.
How do I prove my boss is discriminating?
To prove discrimination, plaintiffs must provide evidence that they: (a) are a member of a protected class, (b) are qualified for the position at issue, (c) suffered an adverse employment action, and (d) the employer treated similarly situated employees outside of the protected class more favorably (or some other ...
What qualifies as a hostile work environment?
A hostile work environment occurs when an employee's ability to perform their work is interfered with by discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or other acts on the basis of their race, gender, religion, disability, age, or other characteristics depending on the law.
How to challenge indirect discrimination?
- complain directly to the person or organisation.
- use someone else to help you sort it out (called 'mediation' or 'alternative dispute resolution')
- make a claim in a court or tribunal.
What is an example of indirect work?
Indirect labor cost is considered to be a form of product cost. This is because product cost refers to the costs that are directly involved in production. Indirect labor examples include security officers, accountants, supervisors and janitors.
What is indirect harassment?
Indirect harassment occurs when the act was not aimed at the employee but creates a toxic atmosphere, or if simply put, a secondary victim is offended by an unwelcome conduct. This can manifest in several ways. A person is subjected to indirect harassment if he/she: Overhears an offensive joke or remark.
What assumption you would make to start an indirect proof?
To start an indirect proof for 'Stack AB with a bar on top is not an altitude', one would assume the opposite: 'Stack AB with the bar on top is an altitude'. If this assumption leads to a contradiction, then the original statement is proven to be true.
How do you find indirect evidence?
Examples of indirect evidence are eyewitness testimony of the defendant being at or leaving the scene, security camera footage showing the defendant in the vicinity of the crime scene, expert opinions, and public records.
What is typically the first step of an indirect proof?
The typical first step of an indirect proof in mathematics is to first assume the opposite of what you are trying to prove. This assumption is called the negation or the contradiction.
What are real examples of indirect discrimination?
An example of indirect discrimination, may be a minimum height requirement for a job where height is not relevant to carry out the role.
How do I know if I'm being discriminated against at work?
If you are consistently denied promotions, training opportunities, and/or other benefits that are given to other employees with similar qualifications and job performance, it could be a sign of discrimination.
What is characteristic of indirect discrimination?
By law, indirect discrimination is when a working practice, policy or rule is the same for everyone in a group, and: it would put people who share a protected characteristic at a disadvantage. it puts someone personally at a disadvantage. the employer cannot justify the course of action.
What to do if you are being singled out at work?
If you believe you are being harassed at work, you should report the conduct to your supervisor or another manager, even if it happens only once or does not seem very serious.
What does unfair treatment look like at work?
Unfair treatment is unkind, inequitable, or improper treatment of an employee, either by another employee or by upper management. Unfair treatment can range from cruelly worded emails or rude comments to being left out of meetings or fired for the wrong reasons.
Can I report my boss for mistreating me?
An employee that has been subject to any type of job discrimination or mistreatment may also file an EEOC complaint. The EEOC, or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accepts complaints filed in person or by mail with the nearest office.