Discrimination and harassment cause wide-ranging harm

 Posted on August 16, 2024 in Discrimination & Retaliation

You should feel safe and secure at your place of employment. It sounds like a simple thing, but if you're reading this post, then you may have felt threatened, harassed, or treated unfairly at work.

Despite being illegal for decades, sexual harassment and workplace discrimination are rampant in Maryland workplaces, leaving individuals like you missing out on key employment opportunities and facing retaliation for reporting harassing and discriminatory behavior.

Yet, a lot of people who are subjected to harassment and discrimination let the matter go without taking any formal action. Sometimes this is because they fail to recognize the egregious behavior for what it is, and in other instances they think that it's easier to just let it go and deal with the consequence than to fight for accountability.

This just perpetuates the cycle of harassment and discrimination, which is one reason why you should fight to hold your employer responsible for the harm that they've caused to you. And don't for a second think that those damages are minor. In fact, the true harm caused by harassment and discrimination is more severe than many people realize.

If you've been subjected to sexual harassment or workplace discrimination, then you need to understand the extent of the harm that could be caused to you so that you understand the importance of taking legal action. Here's some of the damage that could be caused to you:

• Financial losses: This is the obvious one, but it's important to note. Due to discrimination or harassment, you might miss out on a promotion, be passed over for a job, face demotion, or be forced to work fewer hours or for a lower rate of pay. Any of these adverse employment actions can impact your financial stability. And if you lose your job due to harassment or discrimination, then you may incur additional costs such as those related to obtaining additional education and training.
• Reputational harm: If you lose a job or face some other adverse employment action, then your professional reputation can be harmed. This can make it hard to advance in your career regardless of how hard you've worked to build your credentials.
• Emotional turmoil: Workplace discrimination and sexual harassment can leave you feeling like you're less than what you actually are. That's why many victims of harassment and discrimination end up developing mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. These conditions can wreak havoc on your life if improperly treated, and they can linger for a significant period of time.
• Diminished confidence: Once you've been subjected to workplace discrimination or harassment, your confidence is probably going to be rattled. Moving forward, you might be worried that you'll be judged on your appearance or status in a protected class rather than your abilities, or you might start to second guess your abilities.

Don't let your employer get away with discrimination or harassment

Your employer needs to be held accountable for the harm they cause to you. But that's only going to happen if you take legal action. So, if you're ready to hold your employer's feet to the fire and secure compensation for the damage caused to you, then now is the time to start gathering evidence of your discrimination or harassment and educating yourself on the law. Only then can you rest assured that you've done everything you can to achieve a fair and just outcome.