Readers Respond: Have You Witnessed or Experienced Discrimination in Your Workplace: Even Subtly?

I'm on a lifelong mission to help people focus on their similarities, not their differences. It's a tough road because discrimination is often subtle, rarely talked about, and usually, unwitting. Otherwise caring, educated people would be shocked to recognize how their upbringing, world view, and environment influence their thinking – often unintentionally and unknowingly. Won’t you take a moment to share your discrimination stories? Have you or someone you know been discriminated against in the workplace because of “differences” due to race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, or another characteristic that differs among people? Have you witnessed acts of discrimination by others, wittingly or unwittingly? If so, share your discrimination story.

See More Reader Responses.

Rehabilitated and Still Discriminated

I'm a 43 year old female, an ex-felon, and received awards for providing excellent customer service. When I resided in Arizona, though nothing showed up on the background check, I was honest. I was given the opportunity and was hired where in training I passed and became HIPAA certified and moved up to assisting new agents when Medicare Part D came out. My honesty about my background led me to better employment elsewhere. When I returned to California, I submitted my resume, passed the phone interview, passed the typing and customer service test, and while waiting to be interviewed by Fry's Electronics Call Center supervisor, the team leader came up to me and stated he had to escort me from the building. I have been off parole for over 10 years, a productive member of society. I voted, and pay taxes only to be humiliated and escorted from the building because I was honest on my application so I didn't deserve a chance or even to be seen. I feel this is an issue that should be included.

—Guest Andi

Part Time Employee

Hired by Kraft Foods in January, 2012 and was told I would work 332-40 hours per week on part-time with no benefits. In the two months I've been there, they hired 2 more part-time employees in March. They work more hours than I do. I have been cut down to 8-10 hours a week while they work. I think that is unfair and would appreciate your input. (Susan says that my only advice is to talk with the supervisor to find out why this has happened. When I have run into this type of situation it is often because they work harder, smarter, faster or in some way add more value. I can't speculate in your situation, but that is where you must start - with the supervisor. If that doesns't give you an answer, perhaps involve HR.)

—Guest BILL STARK

Company discrimination

My ex's company started with 7 employees and their promise to the group was: we'll reward the ones who help us to grow and build this company. Last year, almost 30 years later, it suddenly became clear that it was only the 2 who started the company who were to be rewarded when they sold the company for $millions. It never ceases to amaze me how "short memories are" and where "greed" takes over in the end! These are the same people who didn't want to give a raise to a hard working man because his son, now a doctor, is driving a Mercedez!

—Guest Goldy55

Lessons on Discrimination

Moving form the north to the south gave me lessons on discrimination I had not encountered so blatantly before. I became very anxious and developed hypertension.

—Guest Grace

Report Turned on Her

I wanted to report an incident confidentially and it turned out to be a nightmare. A childcare provider abused a child on the job and me being new and knowing that I saw her while she was doing it it was like omg. So when my bosses walked by, I said I need to talk to you about something and later that day I told her in so little words cause I just didn't know how to come out and say it. Anyway, the childers provider I was working with has been at this facility for 8+ years and I've only been there not even 90 days. At least that's what my bosses kept implying while we were going through the investigation. They were devastated when they told me they "fired Ms. R" and they still found it hard to believe coming from the "new kid on the block." They then gently laid me off and rumor has it Ms. R is to return to work on Monday January 16, 2012. (Is this an act that should have been reported to the police?)

—Guest Queen

Multiple Discrimination Patterns

I am a white female, and I was with a large corporation for over 25 years. Over the years there were discrimination practices, however the worst for me was the last 3 years with the organization. Because of my relationship with an African American male in the organization, I became a target. I was #3 in the country in sales and that didn't matter. They spent 2 years trying to destroy me. I filed at the EEOC, which is a joke to me. They are protecting the organization - period. I had over 5,000 documents proving the discriminatory behaviors from taking accounts, to taking away promotion opportunities while I was the most successful in the district. The position was given to another gentleman who was a 76%. The EEOC, accepted my statement after a grueling (6) hours in their office. The law firm was afraid to touch it due to the lack of filings under the definition of "discrimination due to association". In 2008 the economy crashed & they didn't want to risk. (I'd seek anther law firm.)

—NQWC

Family Discrimination

My mom is the co-manager so I am not allowed to work on the days she works. If she is working on a day that I am scheduled to work, then when I come in, I have to leave.

—Guest kb

JOBLESS NURSE

Age discrimination is alive and kicking in the workplace. I was top of the scale in my area, and was terminated with causes that could easily have been fought in a court of law. However, the big corp KNOWS it is costly. Had eventually needed to pick up healthcare insurance and it was KNOWN. Not that I am a massive mess physically, but I am on meds and do need services. I have written to the state Department of Workforce Development and discussed the fact many workers within my organization were either bullied out of their jobs, or, let go for flimsy reasons. The good old "At Will State". Another big corporation. I am a GOOD worker who kicked butt and gave good care to patients. Despite, it doesn't matter. Yes, HR does go above and beyond what "can" be said. Especially in smaller towns. At the end of the line of my UI and at the end of my rope period. Big corps, big MEDICAL corps and insurance companies IMO, had a GREAT part to do with this economy. GREED GREED GREED and corrruption.

—ANITAJOB

HR discrimination

Hr has has been rude and ugly to me for 2 years, because she is friends with my boss.

—Guest Judy

No Promotion

At the firing of my supervisor I was supposed to become the supervisor. I had been employed here almost 3 years. I was asked about me having kids. I was also attending community college at this time. But my youngest child is 18 and I had been going to school all this time, and still continuing to do my job. The position was given to someone that I trained and he had only worked here for a little over a month.

—Guest Charli

Sexual Harassment

My daughter is currently in federal court for a sexual harassment and retaliation suit against the resort she worked for for 14 months and was fired from in retaliation for making a sexual harassment complaint against her manager. The EEOC took just short of 2 years to find reasonable cause for my daughter. Now the employer is claiming that they are broke. I say tough patootie. They have had two years to enjoy the fruits of their business while my daughter has suffered the aftereffects of the harassment. And the real shame is that the owners of the business not only lied to the EEOC but they continued to let that manager work for them for two more years. He was only fired after the EEOC issued their reasonable cause finding. Now the owners admit to the harassment and want to settle. I say take their butts to court and let it be known what kind of a resort they are running.

—Guest mad momma

Sexual Harassment at work

I'm not sure where to turn. I work for a large corporation with offices all over the country. For the last year my boss has repeatedly tried massaging my shoulders at work, hugging me, smelling my hair, telling me how he likes my hair and nails to be done, asking for pictures of me, taking photographs of me while at work, asking me to lunch, texting me at home that he thinks I am very pretty, very classy, and that my hair looked good that day. I have repeatedly told him to stop and not touch me. When it didn't stop, I went to our corporate office. They told me that with his title (DR.) there is nothing they can do. They also asked me to let them know if I was going to be leaving. They said his behavior is harassing and that it's just childish on his part and we just need to grow up. They made him formally apologize, but during the investigation I was denied a promotion. Today after the apology I was wrote up for using my phone I wasn't the only one and have never been in trouble before. Help. (Susan suggests: Call your state department of labor and an attorney. I assume that you have involved corporate HR?)

—Guest silver07

Workplace discrimination

I need help. My girlfriend is being discriminated against at work. She has worked there for 2 years and has not had any problems; since coming out she has gone through hell. As of yesterday, the owner took away every raise he has given her and has demoted her. Of course he won't say it's because she is gay. We live in Indianapolis, IN. We don't know where to go for help, please help us. Yesterday, the owner had 4-5 write ups that she had never seen or signed, he would not let her look at them. He won't give her a chance to say anything. Again, none of this started until she came out. Any help you can give us will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time. (Hi, This is Susan. Click on your state and tell yourstory to the discrimination people at the department of labor. http://www.dol.gov/dol/location.htm)

—Guest Robin Potter

Why diversity in the workplace is import

I believe diversity in the workplace is important because in any company there is teamwork. Having that said a team is made up of all different origins and races of people. A team can progress better than an individual by themselves.

—Guest Renae

Boomers Rock

The company I work for has been great about hiring older workers, however, some of the young people are very rude and make fun of or ignore us.

—Guest YOUng@heart