Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
Are you experiencing stress at work? Well, you are not alone. Many of us struggle with our careers at some point in our lives, especially if we are being mistreated due to discrimination or other gender-related factors. Understand, being held back or harassed because of your gender is not acceptable. You have the law on your side. Here are some strategies to navigate unethical gender-related discrimination.
Understand Gender Discrimination
In a perfect world, all would see genders are equal in the workplace, but, sadly, this isn’t always the case. It is still commonplace for women to be paid less than their male counterparts. Additionally, they could end up disadvantaged when it comes to promotions and equal treatment.
You may not be able to pinpoint exactly how you are being discriminated against. It’s something that employers don’t advertise in a world where women are becoming a force to reckon with. Truthfully, you may have been given a lower starting wage and benefits than your male peers. It’s important to understand what fair wages and practices are for your industry. This is the only way to truly know if you’re receiving an equal opportunity. If something isn’t right, don’t take the job or communicate your concerns as soon as possible. You are also entitled to seek legal advice and representation from a union.
Get Legal Help
Tragically, wage theft is a common occurrence in today’s workplaces. As I stated above, you could be paid less than a male employee for the same job. Additionally, less overtime, fewer benefits, and shorter vacations or breaks may happen to women. This is primarily because many women need flexibility to balance work and family life. If this is the case, do seek a professional team like the one at Turley Law Firm that specializes in wage theft claims. They can help you to build a case and claim back what you lost.
Know that you don’t have to endure such treatment on your own. Gather your evidence of mistreatment and look for specific expert workplace lawyers who can help you get what you deserve from your employers.
Balance Work and Family
Another problem that is particularly relevant to women is being able to balance their family and careers. This can be partially difficult for those in jobs that do not have flexible hours. If you are doing a quality job, your employer should not have grounds to penalize you for taking time off for your family. It is in their best interest to help their employees find work/life balance. However, the US is not doing so hot in that area, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Out of 38 other countries, we came in 30th place.
Handling Sexual Harassment
Though sexual harassment is something that can affect both men and women, research by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) stated that at least 25% of women experience sexual harassment in the workplace. Shockingly, this is likely extremely conservative. Parts of the report suggest that as much as 85% may be victims in their lifetime. It is never acceptable or even legal.
With that in mind, if you have experienced a situation in which you feel uncomfortable, or that is inappropriate at work, it is vital to report the incident to your superior.
Moving Forward
Ask about what other help is offered by your company for victims of harassment and other issues. They might pay for counseling or a support group. It’s also worth discussing with your employer/union what will happen to the perpetrator of gender-related discrimination. Some organizations have a zero-tolerance policy where this is concerned. Others may do counseling or offer other types of training.
The important thing is that you feel safe and appreciated at your workplace. Anything else is not serving you or your career. As a woman, you have a unique contribution to any company. It would help if you never had to sacrifice yourself to keep a good job.
