It is a sad fact that people with disabilities face discrimination in the workplace every day across the United States. Thankfully, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) makes this kind of conduct illegal, and allows victims of disability discrimination to seek compensation for the harm they have suffered. Here are seven ways you can identify if you have been the victim of disability discrimination:
- Use of offensive language or jokes
- One of the most basic ways that disability discrimination can manifest is as offensive language or jokes. While not always enough on its own to qualify as discrimination, these kinds of offensive comments can point to a hostile work environment in which bad behavior can flourish.
- Failure to provide reasonable accommodations
- The ADA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to disabled employees, so they can perform their jobs more effectively. If an employer balks at providing these accommodations, that can be a sign of discriminatory behavior.
- Exclusion from meetings or events
- While few people enjoy going to meetings or work events, it can be even worse to be left out of meetings that concern your job. It can be a sign that you are being left out of the loop on purpose, hurting your ability to do your work.
- Lack of raises or promotions
- After working for a job for a certain period of time, you should expect to get a raise or promotion. However, if you find you are stuck in the same position for the same pay, that can be a sign of disability discrimination.
- Excessive responses for rules violations
- Everyone makes mistakes, but discrimination can make the same mistakes receive different responses. If a disabled person receives a harsher punishment than a non-disabled person for the same offense, that may be the result of disability discrimination.
- Unexplained declines in performance reviews
- Likewise, you should view any unexplained decline in performance reviews with suspicion. If you have been putting in the same level of effort but your performance reviews have been getting worse, that may be reflective of discrimination.
- Retaliation for reporting discrimination
- Finally, even if you are not yourself disabled, you may face retaliation from your employer for reporting discrimination. If this happens to you, you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling workplace discrimination cases.
Steven Mitchell Sack, the Employee’s Lawyer, is a New York employment lawyer with more than 44 years’ experience handling the many aspects of employment law. His new book, “Fired!: Protect Your Rights & FIGHT BACK If You’re Terminated, Laid Off, Downsized, Restructured, Forced to Resign or Quit,” is available in hardback, and contains valuable advice on dealing with employment and labor law issues. To purchase the book, feel free to contact Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or visit the website at legalstratpub.com. To inquire about a legal matter, please feel free to contact attorney Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or stevensackatty@hotmail.com.
