TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION
Direct discrimination
Direct discrimination happens when an employer treats an employee less favorably because of, for example, their gender or race. (So it would be direct discrimination if a driving job was only open to male applicants).
Indirect discrimination
Indirect discrimination is when a condition that disadvantages one group of people more than another is applied to a job. For example, saying that applicants for a job must be clean-shaven puts members of some religious groups at a disadvantage. However the law does allow employers to discriminate indirectly if they can show a good reason for having the condition. For example, the condition that applicants must be clean-shaven might be justified if the job involved handling food and it could be shown that having a beard or moustache was a genuine hygiene risk.
Harassment and victimization
Harassment means offensive or intimidating behavior - sexist language or racial abuse, for example - which aims to humiliate, undermine or injure its target.
Victimization means treating somebody less favorably than others because they tried to make a discrimination complaint.
Job DiscriminationÂ
A job advert is not allowed to request for certain discriminatory requirements to be adhered to. Such prejudiced job ads call for specific job seeker requirements to be met upon receipt of the CV application. The questions call for candidates of a specific build, race, age, sex or other discriminatory prerequisites. Unless applying to an acting or modeling role where these questions would apply, avoid employment opportunities that are blatant discrimination, these are by no means an opportunity for a professional such as you Discrimination during the Recruitment & Selection Process. Job seekers should familiarize themselves with an understanding of their recruitment rights. There are sensitive job interview questions that employers are not allowed to ask based on discrimination clauses. Only questions that directly relate to the candidates' ability to perform the job are permitted.
Age Discrimination
Age discrimination is rife in recruitment. Employers are not allowed to hire an employee based on their age. A candidate's relevant experience is all that is required in a job application. This protects both young professionals as well as older more matured workers from being discriminated against. Age should have no bearing on an employee's ability to perform their job. Provided they are able and fit to perform the required tasks, all that applies is their level of experience.
Sexism in the Workplace
Gender discrimination has become a real and very relevant problem in the workplace. Workers are compensated based on their personal performance and ability to deliver measurable. Regardless of an employee's gender, whoever performs the task most efficiently earns their right to advance. Gender discrimination may have been shrugged off twenty years ago but not anymore. Gender discrimination is no longer tolerated in the workplace. Both men and women share equal opportunities and progress based on their success to produce deliverables.
Discrimination against Race and Nationality
Your skin color, race and nationality have nothing to do with how well you perform at work. While we all share differences, it is our ability to outperform one another that sets us apart from each other. Regardless of your race, your nationality or you skin color all employees in South Africa should enjoy equal opportunities within industry related quests. Dependant on how each person performs should dictate an employee's growth path.
Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Under no circumstances is an employer to request information pertaining to an employee's sexual orientation. Should an employee be treated unfairly due to the specifics of their sexual orientation, this constitutes as sexual discrimination and is punishable according to labor legislation. While employers are accountable for such obscene employment behavior, employees need to protect their rights. Staff should learn about ways to identify discrimination, how best to react to it and what procedure to follow should they be faced with discrimination in their workplace.