The law is supposed to protect workers from discrimination based on a number of factors, including race and gender. Sadly, these laws do not appear to be as effective as they are supposed to be. More than half of workers in the United States say they have either experienced or at least seen workplace discrimination.
According to a Glassdoor survey, approximately 60% of American workers — including those in Wisconsin — have had these experiences with discrimination. That same survey also found that 42% of respondents reported discrimination based on their race, and the same percentage either experienced or witnessed gender discrimination. Another 45% said they had experienced discrimination because of age. Although age discrimination is frequently associated with workers over the age of 55, workers under the age of 34 were more likely to report age-based discrimination.
The results of this survey show that many workplaces are still hostile to some workers. However, some companies are working to improve corporate culture and reduce discrimination. Inclusion and diversity specialists are not necessarily new, but U.S. companies are hiring these individuals at a rate 30% higher than in 2018. These specialists focus on promoting diversity in the workplace and can help companies of any size align their actions with the law.
Unfortunately, change is often slow. Many Wisconsin workers are still in positions where they are subject to workplace discrimination, which can result in lower wages, missed opportunities and generally unhappy work lives. Rather than try to wait for employers to make the first move, discrimination victims can take choose to take legal action, which may help recover compensation while encouraging companies to make important changes.