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Workplace Discrimination In The United States

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Workplace Discrimination in the United States

Introduction Diversity, the nation’s unfinished business. Workplace diversity is defined as the similarities and differences among employees in terms of age, cultural background, physical abilities and disabilities, race, and religion. A diverse workforce allows for learning and growth to take place, as well as an increase in activity, and a more creative workforce. Despite all of these positive aspects of a diverse workforce, workplace discrimination remains prevalent in many forms. Many businesses claim to aspire to a level playing field, but the people who they have hired in the past, and present tells a different story. Workplace diversity must be retained and expanded in the United States, …show more content…

This includes the deaf, blind, and anyone else who has a physical, or mental condition that affects their abilities. A study conducted by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commision shows that workplace disability discrimination claims rose tremendously in 2016 (Smith). Over thirty percent of charges filed in 2016 involved disability discrimination, despite the fact that disabled people only make up twenty percent of the population, and an even smaller percentage of the workforce. At work disabled individuals may be subjected to harassment, denials of accommodations, and other forms of discrimination. The most common reasons employers and managers discriminate against disabled employees is because they believe they are not capable, intelligent, or see hiring them as an act of charity or kindness, rather than a business …show more content…

Religious discrimination involves treating a person, rather that person be an employee or applicant, unfavorably because of his or her religious beliefs. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commision considered three thousand seven hundred twenty one religious discrimination complaints in 2013 (Wright). Religious discrimination is quite difficult to prove, this is the main reason why only a small portion of claims receive any justice. Many people feel they should be discreet or even silent about their religion in the workplace, faith is good news to be shared, light to be shown, salt to be tasted, not a hobby to be hidden (Wright). It becomes difficult to hide religion when an employee continuously asks for Sundays off, or when individuals choose to physically represent their religion in ways such as wearing a

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