It’s not always easy to find out if you’re being discriminated against or if your supervisor or coworkers simply don’t like you. When someone doesn’t like you, they may not treat you fairly, and it may have nothing to do with how you look or other aspects about you.
There are some signs of discrimination that are different compared to situations where someone is just being mean to you, though. Here are three signs of discrimination that you should watch out for.
1. The other people are demeaning to you
Talking down to you is unfair and shouldn’t be allowed, but it does happen. If you’re talked down to and slurs or racist phrases are used, then that is a big, red flag. Offensive jokes and comments about your race should be noted and reported to the human resources office.
2. You keep hearing references to your age
People may just think they’re being funny when they say you’re “as old as dirt” or “should retire already,” but those comments can be a sign of discrimination. If someone makes assumptions about you based on your age or is demeaning to you because of it, then you could be a victim of discrimination.
3. You’re not paid the same as others
Finally, if you and other coworkers find out each other’s wages and you see you’re being paid much less than they are, that could be a sign of discrimination. If you all have the same backgrounds and experience, you should have similar wages (though some may negotiate higher wages than others, which is something to take into consideration).
These are three things you should keep a lookout for as you work your position. If you feel you’re being discriminated against, tell your supervisor or HR department. If nothing is done, then an attorney may be able to help.