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What is discrimination at work? What can I do if I am being discriminated against at work?
Discrimination is actions, behaviours, decisions, or omissions that treat you unfairly and badly for reasons linked to personal traits.
According to the Ontario's Human Rights Code (OHRC), these are called grounds and can be:
- Age
- Ancestry, colour, race
- Citizenship
- Creed
- Disability
- Ethnic origin
- Family status
- Gender identity, gender expression
- Marital status (including single status)
- Place of origin
- Receipt of public assistance (in housing only)
- Record of offences (in employment only)
- Sex (including pregnancy and breastfeeding)
- Sexual orientation
The OHRC prohibits discrimination against people based on these protected grounds and in a protected social area, like employment.
Examples of discrimination include hearing offensive jokes about your religion or culture or not getting the same wage because of your gender.
Signs of Discrimination
- Being treated unfairly by managers compared to colleagues
- Being excluded from meetings that are directly about your work
- Negative comments about you. This could be about accommodations you receive for a disability, your culture or religion
- Rules or policies that affect you unfairly.
What can I do?
There are things you can do to stop discrimination.
- Keep records - Make notes about incidents of discrimination, including the dates and any witnesses.
- Know your rights - Knowing your employment and human rights regarding discrimination is helpful.
- Report it - Talk to your supervisor or human resources about the situation. They may not know what is happening until you tell them. If it is your supervisor, go to their manager. If you are part of a union, talk to your representative. You can also inform your Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC).
- Ask for support - Talk to your doctor about getting mental health support while you are dealing with the issues at work. Talk to friends or your family as well, you can get support and ideas about moving forward after things are resolved at work.
No matter what happens, it is never your fault.
Why is it important to report discrimination?
It is important to report because everyone deserves to be treated fairly and respectfully at work. Other people may struggle with discrimination and are uncomfortable or unable to report it. By taking action, others may come forward and make their own reports.
You can not be fired for filing a complaint. Your rights are legally protected. You can file a claim with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO). You can get help with your claim from the Human Rights Legal Support Centre.
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Last updated:
January 10, 2025
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