What are the common types of discrimination?

In California, there are many types of discrimination that are illegal under employment law. Discrimination is the unequal treatment of someone based on a protected characteristic, such as their race, sex, age, or disability. The most common type of discrimination is known as disparate treatment. This type of discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee differently on the basis of a protected characteristic. For example, an employer may deny hiring a qualified applicant because of their race, gender, or age. The second type of discrimination is known as disparate impact discrimination. This occurs when an organization’s policy unintentionally discriminates against a certain group of people. For example, if a company has a policy which requires employees to have a certain level of experience, this could have a disparate impact on individuals with disabilities who may have difficulty gaining that level of experience. The third type of discrimination is known as harassment. This can take many forms such as verbal or physical abuse, jokes about someone’s protected characteristics, or sexual advances. All of these forms of discrimination are illegal in California. These types of discrimination are very serious and can have serious consequences for employers. Employers in California should make sure to create policies and procedures that are designed to prevent discrimination and create an inclusive workplace.

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