As DEI Comes Under Attack, Discrimination Is on the Rise
As many companies walk back their DEI commitments, incidents of hate and exclusion are being felt more deeply – especially by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and religious minority employees.
However, federal and state laws protect you from being treated differently in the workplace because of your protected class or characteristic including, but not limited to: race, religion, or national origin.
Learn more by visiting our Know Your Rights page.
Recognizing Workplace Hate
Workplace Hate Isn’t Always Loud
It can look like:
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Racial slurs or “jokes”
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Islamophobic or antisemitic remarks
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Misgendering or deadnaming
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Being constantly left out of meetings or opportunities
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Retaliation after speaking up
If you witness this, it’s not just wrong, it may violate workplace policy and law.
How You Can Support the Victimized
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Believe them & don’t minimize, question, or disregard their experience.
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Check in privately by asking: “How can I support you?”
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Speak up & interrupt hate when it’s safe to do so. Say: “That’s not appropriate.”
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Document what you see by keeping notes, dates, and names.
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Don’t make it about you & center the impacted person’s needs.
Encourage Reporting the Incident
How to Report Workplace Hate:
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Review your employer’s handbook & policies for complain procedures.
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File a complaint with your supervisor, HR, or the employer’s designated individual.
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Keep a record: document everything, including communications to the employer, who you spoke with, and what was said.
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Report the incident to organizations like CA vs Hate at 211 or CAIR-CA here
Why Reporting Matters
Reporting not only creates accountability, but helps to engender a workplace culture of safety and respect.
Reporting helps:
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Hold perpetrators accountable
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Establish a record of harm
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Raise awareness
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Trigger investigations
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Protect others from experiencing the same incidents
Speaking up makes it harder for hate to hide.
Download a KYR Business Card
Visit our guides and toolkits page to download a Know Your Rights business card.