Workplace discrimination is a serious issue. It can lead to a hostile and discriminatory work environment when it goes unreported. Thankfully, employees in Idaho who experience or witness workplace discrimination have some protections under the law when they report it. Let’s look at them below.
Idaho employment laws
In Idaho, employment law allows employers to fire you at any time for whatever reason, except for discrimination and other illegal motives. You can also quit your job at any moment when you want. But, if you and your employer have an unfished contract, you can’t quit, and neither can they terminate your employment.
Workplace discrimination
Workplace discrimination is any employment practice that maltreats an employee or job applicant because of their protected characteristic. Protected characteristics include race, religion, gender, age, disability, and national origin. Workplace discrimination can take many forms, including but not limited to:
- Refusing to hire someone because of their gender
- Promoting someone less qualified than another candidate because of their race or religion
- Paying someone less than another employee who does the same job
- Firing, harassing or creating a hostile work environment for an employee who has different characteristics than other employees
Reporting workplace discrimination in Idaho
Discrimination in the workplace is against the law. If you believe that you have been discriminated against at your job or witnessed discrimination in the workplace, you have a right to report it, either to your employer or the Idaho Human Rights Commission.
When you report workplace discrimination, your employer is required by law to take prompt and appropriate action to investigate and address the situation. Additionally, your employer is prohibited from retaliating against you for reporting discrimination, such as terminating your employment or demoting you. If they do, you may be able to sue them for lost wages, reinstatement, and damages.
Reporting workplace discrimination is a brave act that can help protect yourself and others from further discrimination. And thus, the state and federal laws protect you.
