People from around the world live and work in New York and New Jersey. While cultures, customs and different beliefs are readily accepted, there are still issues with discrimination. In an employment setting, that can cause problems that need to be addressed. It can negatively impact a person’s job status, work performance, chance for advancement and their mental health.
Although there are laws in place to protect people from discriminatory behavior on the job, it still occurs. In recent years, Asian Americans have faced growing discrimination. A recent study from Pew Research Center emphasizes what is happening and its frequency. People who are unaware of their rights or are fearful of coming forward should be aware that they can hold those who are discriminating against them accountable.
More than 60% of Asian Americans say they face discrimination
More than 7,000 Asians took part in the study, including people of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Filipino and Korean descent. The researchers found that 63% of Asian Americans stated their ethnicity or race played a role in discriminatory behaviors against them.
For many, it is not just a single incident, but a series of behaviors that cause them problems. More than three-quarters say they have been treated as if they are foreign. This is true even for those born in the United States.
Behaviors include being chastised for speaking a language other than English, being told they should return to their country and an automatic belief that they cannot speak English at all. For work situations, about 20% say they were discriminated against on the job.
This recent study adds context to a prior report saying that Asian workers believed they faced the lowest amount of inclusiveness in the workplace of any demographic. In that study, more than 10,000 Asians took part from North America and in other locations around the world. Sixteen percent of Asian men stated they felt included. For Asian women, it was 20%.
Workplace discrimination does not need to be tolerated
Employment law violations take many forms. Anyone can be harmed by this type of treatment whether it is a blue-collar job like restaurant work and construction or a white-collar job in an office setting. Simple untoward comments can constitute discrimination. So too can a person who is denied a promotion or not given specific assignments because of their race or ethnicity.
Some might be concerned about speaking up because they do not want to lose the job or make matters worse. In other cases, they are unsure of the process or if anything can be done to stop the behavior. It does not necessarily need to be the employer who is committing the discriminatory acts. It could be colleagues, customers and clients. There are ways to ensure fair treatment and put a stop to workplace discrimination. Those dealing with these behaviors should think about their options.