Common Examples of Race Discrimination in the Workplace

Race discrimination occurs in every industry, including retail, construction or office settings and remains a serious problem across Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia.

Despite having been handling race discrimination cases for nearly 20 years, it’s sad to say that it continues to be one of the most common reasons clients contact us. We see many cases of discriminatory practices involving minorities, most notably, African Americans and Asian Americans.

Discrimination is Unlawful

Race discrimination against anyone is unlawful. Federal and state laws that prohibit race discrimination apply to everyone, no matter their race. A recent Third Circuit court case illustrates this point.

Earlier this year, a Pennsylvania federal appeals court found that a Caucasian employee’s race discrimination claim against a law enforcement office was allowed where the employee claimed that he was fired after complaining of racist comments made against his biracial relative. See Kengerski v. Harper, 3d Cir., July 31, 2021.

Call our Philadelphia employment law firm for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation. We represent mistreated employees in race discrimination, wrongful termination, and employment retaliation cases throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. (215) 545-8917

Below is a list of the most common examples of race discrimination in the workplace.

• Not getting hired
• Getting demoted/fired
• Not getting raises, promotions, bonuses or other perks of employment
• Reduction in hours
• Being assigned lower-paying projects
• Verbal/physical abuse

Individuals seeking jobs may not be offered employment due to race discrimination. For example, an African American individual applies for a remote work job in Pennsylvania. He goes through a rigorous interview process that is performed solely via phone. Each interviewer notes that he is well qualified and is a great fit for the job. However, the final interview is conducted in person with a senior manager who declines to offer the job, citing “lack of qualifications.” Here, the success of the race discrimination claim depends on the evidence. There may be sufficient evidence to show that race was the sole reason for not getting hired, especially considering that the prior phone interviewers noted that the individual was well qualified.

Related Race Discrimination Case Result: $200K Race Discrimination Trial Verdict Against an Online University

Time Limits for Workplace Discrimination Claims in Pennsylvania

Employees who feel they have suffered an adverse employment action such as firing, demotion, etc., should consult with an experienced employment lawyer. Time is of the essence in race discrimination cases. Federal and state laws place time limits on the ability to take legal action. In most Pennsylvania race discrimination cases, the employee or job seeker only has 180 days under federal law or 300 days under state law to file a claim. The clock usually starts ticking on the date of the discriminatory act, i.e., the date of firing or date the job was denied.