Race Discrimination

Iowa and Federal law prohibit discrimination and harassment based on race. However, because the concept of discrimination in employment is so often misunderstood, many employees do not recognize discrimination when it is occurring and therefore take no steps to protect their rights to equal employment.

The complex explanation is that most people are denied equal employment opportunities because of negative perceptions or bias tied to race.

Examples of racial bias in employment decisions:

  • A hiring manager may select a white applicant over you for the job or promotion based on wanting to work with people who look like them or some tiny aversion or negative view tied to your race.
  • A manager or supervisor may allow negative views of your race to cause them to pay you less or give you less hours than white coworkers
  • Harassment tied to race is a form of discrimination.  While many employers may no longer allow the use of racial slurs, that has nothing to do with whether the environment is stained with negative views about your race and nothing to do with whether you have a claim for racial harassment
  • An employer may use testing or other so-called “objective” measures of performance that result in the exclusion of certain races. 

The list of possible scenarios is endless, but when the racial discrimination filter is in place, it can and will affect your employment opportunities like getting hired, views of your performance, your promotions, your pay and whether you get fired as well as how you may be treated day in and day out by various supervisors.

All information on our website is meant to be generally informative. To find out whether you may have a case, you should consult an employment or discrimination attorney of your choice.


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