“I am deeply disappointed of my employer. He terminated me from my job recently. I have done nothing wrong. Is it a great deal for him if I belong to a different race? What should I do now? How can I support my family’s needs? Who would dare to rescue me from this terrible situation?" These were some of the questions I heard my friend ask who believed that he has been wrongfully terminated from work. Our conversation prompted me to conduct a study about the law which prohibits employers from firing their employees on the sole basis of their race or color – the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The employers can't treat any worker differently just because of their race or color, as well as their national origin, sex and religious belief. Hence, equal employment treatment and opportunity should be made available for all the employees regardless of their racial characteristics including their hair texture, color or facial features or their association to any racial group. It is also prohibited for the employers to carry out labor decisions which are merely based on the idea regarding the traits and abilities of certain employees who belong to different racial group. This prohibition also covers recruitment, job promotions, trainings, transfer of work assignments, work environment, disciplinary actions and discharge and wage increase and benefits among others. The employers should also implement a discrimination-free environment for their employees wherein they can perform their assigned duties well and enable them to grow on their fields of work. These things are clearly stated in the aforementioned law provision. However, Title VII only apply for those employers having at least 15 employees working for them, including the federal, state and local governments, employment agencies and labor organizations.

The qualifications in the recruitment and advancement terms should be uniform and consistent among all the company employees. It is therefore illegitimate for employers to exclude their workers who belong to certain racial group in setting the said requirements. Meanwhile, it is also unlawful for employers to exercise such offensive acts like ethnic insults, racial jokes, derogatory comments or other verbal and physical prejudice which may put their workers in a shameful position. Thus, the said employees should take the proper steps in reporting these illicit deeds in order to prevent its further escalation. They should not be scared in doing this because the law also affirmed their rights against retaliatory acts of their employers.

If in case that the employees have felt that they were aggrieved by their employers due to their racial group or color, they are indeed given a free-will by the law to hire the legal services of their trusted employment lawyer to assist them in whatever legal undertaking they may pursue. This comes along with their right to file charges and demand for damages or benefits against their misbehaving employers as stated in the company’s severance package or as prescribed by the prevailing employment laws.

This article is just a brief summary about racial discrimination in a workplace. However, anyone who wishes to know more about his or her rights should undergo further research about the law.