Racial discrimination may seem as if it would be easy to identify. The reality is that Missouri employers who discriminate rarely do so in obvious ways. Fortunately for you, the law is prepared for subtle discrimination practices. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, racial discrimination is when you are treated differently because of your racial identification. It goes beyond that, though. Discrimination can also include being treated different due to characteristics associated with your race.
The law also protects you from unfair policies that may discriminate against you because you are of a certain race. Policies must always be enacted because they are job-related and necessary. For example, a policy that says you cannot have a beard might be discriminatory if you have issues with your skin when you shave due to being African American.
You may even experience racial discrimination because you are perceived to be of a certain race even if you are not. For example, if you have a very light skin color due to a genetic condition, you may be perceived to be Caucasian, even if you are not.
Finally, racial discrimination is also when you are treated differently or unfairly due to the people you associate with. If you are white but are married to someone who is Mexican, for example, and you were treated unfairly at work due to this fact, it would be discrimination.
Discrimination is not allowed under the law in any situation. This includes any step of the employment process, from hiring to firing. The only exception is if it is essential to the job. For example, a television studio hiring someone to play an Asian role could legally only accept applications from people who are Asian.
Not all racial discrimination is obvious. You should never be treated differently or badly just because of your race. This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.
