In today’s day and age, we have grown more confident in identifying and addressing the types of discrimination that we or others face. Organizations are still evolving in their attempts to address and eliminate discrimination in the workplace, although many steps have yet to be accomplished. However, the first step in being able to overcome these prejudices is being able to identify the different types that exist.

Disability

One topic that doesn’t get as much attention in the larger discussion surrounding workplace discrimination is that of disability discrimination. While the law deems this discrimination as illegal, there have been far too many organizations letting it slide under their roofs. During the application process, employers are not to ask applicants specific questions regarding their disability or request a medical exam, although this can be done after an employee is hired in order to accommodate them. Despite these efforts to help them thrive in the workplace, however, there are still many biases and barriers that these individuals face because of their disabilities.

Race/Color

One of the more widely discussed areas of discrimination includes one’s race and color. This type of discrimination is, sadly, still a common issue faced in many businesses throughout the world. Even with ongoing discrimination training, social movements and laws, there are still companies in existence that get away with this prejudiced behavior. Between microaggressive comments and unsupportive working environments, many persons of color have, at some point in their careers, felt ostracized or discriminated against in the workplace.

Pregnancy

It would not be untrue to say that the United States still has great lengths to go to provide suitable accommodations for new parents and pregnant employees. Although 12 weeks of leave is the standard time off allotted after childbirth, this current formula does not set parents up for success, and some women have even been turned away from jobs because of the possibility of becoming pregnant. Workplaces have a long way to go in order to be more accommodating to pregnant workers, especially in shielding them from negative treatment or inconsiderate comments.

These types of discrimination are only a small sliver of the amount of discrimination that many workplaces get away with. When we open the discussion to include discrimination based on one’s age, gender, sexual orientation, or religion, the complicated web of issues gets even more complex. Employers and policymakers are charged with a mission to put methods in place to reduce and, one day, eliminate these discriminations from taking place, but it is also in the hands of the employees to take these pieces of training to heart and treat their coworkers with due respect.