According to recent research, workplace discrimination affects more than just the individuals being mistreated due to protected factors such as race and gender identity. It may also impact the productivity of all other workers. Here is a look at how discrimination might affect workplaces in Michigan and how an attorney may help those who believe they have been discriminated against.
Negative effects of workplace discrimination
Employment discrimination could lead to reduced advancement opportunities and earnings for people of a disadvantaged group. It may also add to negative stereotypes about these workers. That is because workplace discrimination might cause these employees to feel less motivated to perform at work, which may reinforce their employer’s views of them as lazy or less incompetent.
Workplace discrimination might also negatively affect workers who are not part of a disadvantaged group. These workers may feel less inclined to work diligently, as they may feel less of a need to prove their worth. Their reduced productivity may ultimately weaken the company’s bottom line, putting their jobs at risk.
How an attorney can help
Workplace discrimination is illegal, but some employers in Michigan still engage in it due to their own biases. People who believe they have been discriminated against at work due to age, sexual orientation or national origin, for example, may benefit from hiring an employment law attorney right away. An attorney can help them understand their rights and possibly file workplace discrimination lawsuits against their employers in an effort to hold them accountable for their actions.