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Subtle discrimination can make going to work unbearable

On Behalf of | Jan 29, 2025 | Workplace Discrimination

Employees have the right to do their job duties without having to worry about being the victims of discrimination. Unfortunately, discrimination is still fairly common in the United States, despite great strides being made toward equality. 

A Gallup poll that was done in 2021 found that 1 in 4 Hispanic workers and Black workers were discriminated against in the year prior to the poll. Some people don’t realize that discrimination isn’t always obvious. There are more subtle forms that can have significant impacts on the victims and those who witness them. 

Often missed discrimination

Subtle discrimination can come in the form of others claiming the work of a person of color. This is more common when these individuals work within a group because the group as a collective will take all the credit, even for the areas that the person of color handled. 

Micromanaging is another action that may be due to discrimination. Black women are often told that they’re too aggressive or to tone down their attitude. Some people of color face nitpicking about their hair or clothing. 

Discrimination through retaliation

Sometimes, the retaliation a person of color faces for speaking up about discrimination is just as harsh as the initial event. It’s not uncommon for performance reviews to suffer after an employee makes a complaint about discrimination. 

Any employee who feels they have been discriminated against, regardless of what type of discrimination they faced, should recognize that they have legal options. Working with someone familiar with these matters can help them get their case together and fight for the rights they’re due.