As an employee, you should not have to experience discrimination. This includes on-the-job discrimination, such as being passed over for a promotion or experiencing a hostile work environment. It also includes discrimination during the hiring process, before you are even technically an employee, and wrongful termination.
That said, just because you do not like an action that your employer takes does not necessarily mean it is discrimination. There are certain protected classes that have been established. These include religion, sex, race, color and national origin. Discriminatory actions occur when an employee is treated differently because of their inclusion in a protected class.
How might this take place?
There are many examples, but a hostile work environment could involve constant jokes or unwanted comments. Maybe coworkers make backhanded comments about you because of your race, perhaps implying that you will be less successful in your career.
When it comes to promotions and raises, you may believe that you are just as qualified as other workers. Perhaps you are a female employee, and you keep getting passed over for those promotions, which go to less qualified male employees.
In terms of wrongful termination, it may be a red flag if sudden changes lead to your being fired. For instance, perhaps you know that your boss follows a certain religion, and you recently joined a different religion. When your boss finds out, they decide to fire you, even though you have not had any negative performance reviews or other issues. You believe it is just because of your inclusion in that religion.
Taking legal action
These are all potential examples of discrimination, so that you know what to watch out for. If any of these things happen to you, it is important to carefully consider what legal steps you can take.