Safety Bulletin August, 2023

Dealing with Discrimination

Discrimination is a violation of human rights resulting in unfair treatment of people because they are members of a specific group. We are all entitled to human rights based upon the common values we share as employees of Bethany. Even though the values we exhibit may differ from time to time, we all have a responsibility to treat one another with respect and dignity.

Recognizing discrimination

Sometimes discrimination is bold—for example, verbal racism or the posting of objectionable material. There are also instances where it may be more subtle and hidden. For example, a manager might choose not to send a pregnant employee for a management training course because they assume that employee might not be able to return to their job after a parenting leave, creating a barrier to promotion based upon discriminatory practices.

To determine if you are a victim of discrimination, ask yourself these questions:

• What makes me believe that I have been treated differently? Were therespecific things said or done that clearly suggest improper treatment?
• What are noticeable and/or documented differences to the experiences ofmy peers in similar situations?
• How are others who are not in a group I belong to treated in similarsituations?
• Do others know that I’m a member of a protected class (for example, that Ihave a disability or that I am gay)?

General guidance on responding to discrimination.

If you believe you have been discriminated against or you have witnessed an act of discrimination, it’s important for you to think through the situation and then take appropriate action. Don’t assume that discriminatory action will stop if ignored or that you’ll “only make it worse” if you speak up. There are federal and local laws against discrimination in every setting, such as the workplace, school, and in the community.

Here are guidelines for responding to discrimination in the workplace.

• Review your company’s policy manual. These may give you guidelinesfor resolving the issue.
• Talk with your supervisor or your human resources (HR) representative.
• Contact Life Works (EAP). These services are confidential, and a professional consultant can help guide you.