Every employee has the right to a safe workplace, free from discrimination. Unfortunately, that’s often not the reality. Despite stringent laws and regulations, employee discrimination in the workplace continues. Even witnessing leading companies facing discrimination lawsuits hasn’t deterred others from ongoing employee discrimination.
The first step in ending employee discrimination in the workplace is knowing the extent of it. You may think it’s not happening in your company. But according to the latest employee discrimination statistics, it is likely a part of your workplace as well.
10 Employee Discrimination Statistics You Shouldn’t Ignore
1. Discrimination Charges
With the rising workplace discrimination, an increasing number of people are filing charges of discrimination. According to the latest employee discrimination stats published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 61,331 discrimination charges were filed in 2021.
These charges claimed multiple types of discrimination, ranging from racial to disability-based. However, this data does not include discrimination charges filed with state or local Fair Employment Practices Agencies. This means the actual number of discrimination cases is likely much higher than reported.
If you want to file charges, you should hire an employee discrimination lawyer. They can help you understand which discrimination charges you can file for and how to navigate the legal system.
2. Remote Work Discrimination
The recent COVID-19 pandemic forced many companies to embrace remote work. However, this transition hasn’t been easy for many organizations. If anything, it seems to have aggravated workplace discrimination.
According to the employee discrimination stats by All Voices, 80% of employees experienced discrimination while working remotely. The report states that over three-quarters of employees faced discrimination through video conferencing, chat apps, or over the phone.
The report also explains how widespread and deep-rooted employee discrimination at the workplace can be despite moving to a remote work environment.
3. Success Rate
Although employees can file discrimination charges, the success rate is relatively low. Only 17.4% of the EEOC’s closed workplace discrimination cases result in success for the client. It’s also reported that at 15%, racial discrimination has the lowest success rate, while retaliation is the most common discrimination claim, accounting for 56% of all claims.
Fortunately, having an experienced and skilled employee discrimination lawyer can increase the chances of your success. Experienced attorneys often know how and when you should take the required legal action to increase the chances of a successful settlement or result. Be sure to talk to a lawyer who understands your situation and offers knowledgable legal advice.
4. Transgender Employee Discrimination in The Workplace
One of the most alarming employee discrimination statistics is about transgender employees. Although the American people have stepped up their support for LGBTQ+ rights, transgender employees in the workforce continue to experience discrimination.
Center for American Progress states that a staggering 90% of transgender workers report some form of harassment or mistreatment on the job. And these workplace abuses pose an immediate threat to the financial well-being of transgender workers.
5. Ongoing Discrimination
Ideally, discrimination shouldn’t play a role in any company or organization, but employee discrimination in the workplace is more common than you think. According to The State of Workplace Discrimination 2021, 55% of employees have experienced discrimination at their current company.
These employees often faced discrimination based on gender, race, and/or religion. If you experience or witness workplace discrimination, reach out to your HR managers or superiors immediately. Most companies have proper measures in place to prevent discrimination.
You should also contact a reliable employee discrimination lawyer. They can help you file charges against your company or the responsible parties.
6. The Highest Rate of Discrimination
While discrimination continues, it’s not equally prevalent in all states or industries. Alabama has the highest rate of discrimination in the US, with 62.2 complaints per 100,000 people. Alabama is closely followed by Mississippi (60.8), Arkansas (51.7), and Georgia (50.3).
7. LGBTQ+ Workers
Increasing awareness is helping to prevent employee discrimination in the workplace. Thirty-three states have legal protections to help prevent workplace discrimination against LGBTQ+ workers.
However, these employee discrimination statistics also mean 17 states still lack these protections. Research demonstrates that legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals provide significant benefits for those individuals as well as for their broader communities.
8. Reporting Workplace Discrimination
While awareness is increasing, there’s still a long way to go. Most employees fail to report discrimination despite the laws and reporting systems in place. As per employee discrimination stats, 32% didn’t report because they weren’t sure it was a big enough deal.
On the other hand, 20.3% didn’t report for fear of retaliation, while 19.5% didn’t report because they thought reporting wouldn’t change anything. While this is how many people feel, talking to an experienced employee discrimination lawyer can show explain that there is something you can do.
9. Discrimination Prevention Measures
Although not many people are keen on reporting discrimination, all hope is not lost. According to the latest employee discrimination statistics, 85% believe their company has proper measures to prevent discrimination. These measures often include:
- Providing reporting tools and systems.
- Creating reporting best practices.
- Setting up resolution protocols.
- Educating and generating awareness among employees.
10. Gender Discrimination Against Women
Gender discrimination is also prevalent in most workplaces. As per employee discrimination statistics, 50% of women in STEM fields report facing gender discrimination. The research also explains that women in STEM experience:
- Sexist comments.
- Lack of trust in their experience or skills.
- The feeling of being an outsider.
Contact an Employee Discrimination Lawyer
Workplace discrimination is far from over. However, not all is lost. Many people, companies, and organizations are working hard to prevent discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, religion, and disability, among other things. These statistics will help you understand the extent of workplace discrimination. If you face this issue, consult an employee discrimination lawyer immediately.
If you need help raising your voice against workplace discrimination, Bantle & Levy can help. Contact us today.
