Race Discrimination at Work: Federal Protections and Your Rights
Federal law prohibits race discrimination in all aspects of employment.
Federal Protections
Title VII prohibits discrimination based on race and color in every aspect of employment. Section 1981 provides additional protections with no minimum employee threshold and a longer statute of limitations.
Common Forms
Overt discrimination includes slurs and explicitly race-based decisions. Subtle forms include being passed over for promotions, receiving harsher discipline, less desirable assignments, exclusion from networks, lower pay, and microaggressions.
Racial Harassment
Racial jokes, slurs, offensive images, comments about race, mockery of cultural practices that are severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile environment.
Taking Legal Action
Document every incident, report internally, file an EEOC charge within 180/300 days. Section 1981 claims have a longer deadline and no damages cap. An attorney can help navigate both avenues.
Think You Have a Case?
This article is for informational purposes. For advice specific to your situation, speak with an experienced employment attorney at no cost.
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