What is Employment Discrimination?  You may be familiar with the word "discrimination." But do you know what it really means? And do you understand how it applies in the context of your job?  To "discriminate" against someone means to treat that person differently, or less favorably, for some reason.

The Purpose of the EEOC  The EEOC is responsible for protecting you against one type of discrimination - employment discrimination because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older). Other laws may protect you from other types of discrimination, such as discrimination at school.Other laws

The laws enforced by EEOC protect you against employment discrimination when it involves:  Unfair treatment because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older)  Harassment because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older)  Denial of a reasonable workplace change that you need because of your religious beliefs or disability.  Retaliation because you complained about job discrimination, or assisted with a job discrimination investigation or lawsuit

Your Rights  The laws enforced by EEOC provide five basic rights for job applicants and employees who work in the United States. The laws apply to applicants, employees and former employees, regardless of their citizenship or work authorization status. Full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary employees are protected if they work for a covered employer (“covered employers” means having over 15 employees).

Disability Discrimination  A person with a disability, like all other applicants and employees, must be able to perform the job he or she is applying for or currently holds, with or without reasonable accommodation.  An employer does not have to hire or retain a person who cannot perform the major job duties because of disability.

Real-Life Cases Two young men, both recent college graduates, applied to work at an Arizona retail store as stockers. They were not hired. The teens, both of whom are deaf, claimed that the store refused to hire them because of their disabilities and their need for workplace changes. The teens contacted the Arizona Center for Disability Law (ACDL), which referred them to the EEOC. The ACDL and the EEOC worked together to file a lawsuit against the store under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of disability. In January 2000, the EEOC and ACDL settled the lawsuit with the store. The terms of the settlement included:  A $66,250 payment for each of the boys, plus medical and other benefits the teens would have received had they been hired  A requirement that each of the boys be offered positions as stockers or unloaders.  A requirement that the boys be provided a sign language interpreter for training and orientation, performance evaluations, and scheduled meetings. In a statement about the case, one of the boys noted, "I feel good because I took a stand about what happened to me and by doing that I also helped other people who are deaf."

Youth At Work: Challenge Yourself! Scenarios

Sources