California is one of the cosmopolitan states of the United States. However, as in any other country, discrimination and harassment in the workplace are a fact.
Cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego are famous for their advances in legal matters to achieve greater social inclusion. But unfortunately, this does not mean that all workers are exempt from problems in their workspaces.
Below are some of the common reasons that can trigger discrimination, harassment, or exploitation in the workplace:
- Ideology: Religious, political, or cultural practices are one of the reasons why labor conflicts can arise when they are not fully understood or are very different from what we are used to seeing or hearing. Respect, education, and communication are essential to make our workspace of greater tolerance.
- Ethnic group: If you come from another country, region, or continent, it is crucial to understand the culture and society of the new place where you will live or start working, whether permanently or not.
- Sexual orientation: It is increasingly common to accept the sexual preferences of others, and this can only be achieved by educating ourselves on the topic and being respectful of others.
- Gender: Most women are vulnerable in their professional environment because they often face harassment and other forms of unwanted behaviors. However, this kind of discrimination is not exclusive to women. A transsexual, non-binary, or gender-fluid person is more exposed to suffering physical or verbal aggression from coworkers.
- Disability: One of the biggest problems, not only in the United States but in the world, is the lack of sensitivity towards people who suffer some disability, whether due to an accident or a genetic defect.
It is becoming increasingly necessary to learn new ways to communicate, cohabitate and interact with one another in order to achieve a more egalitarian and inclusive society. Also, the conditioning of workspaces and the proper education and training are necessary to ease this transition.
Making the workplaces more pleasant, safe, and respectful is the task of all people. Tolerance, respect, education, and empathy are key values to achieving this.
If you have been a victim of mistreatment in your professional environment, remember that you can contact us for advice. Our number one priority is to help our clients find justice and restore their dignity.