Although employees are protected by the law, they often encounter various types of violations of their rights. I have been exposed to sexism and nepotism in my workplace. When discussing my future employment and during the first month of my work, my supervisor and I discussed the details regarding my potential promotion. I worked hard and accomplished all the agreed goals, but I did not receive the position we had discussed. Some time after the position I planned to occupy was given to a male colleague, I learned about the reasons for such a decision. First, it appeared that the supervisor believed a woman could not be a successful leader and occupy any managerial post. On top of that, I learned that my case was also related to nepotism as the promoted colleague was my supervisor’s relative.
When being exposed to any type of abuse, employees have several instruments to respond. Whistleblowing is one of the methods to address an issue as the victim can address the manager who will address the case accordingly. If this strategy turns out to be ineffective or cannot be used, the employee can file a lawsuit. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the body aimed at regulating such cases and ensuring meeting the needs of employees (USA government, 2021). The agency ensures that all employees are treated fairly and equally, and the violators of the established principles are punished. It is noteworthy that the victim should make sure they have valid evidence to support their claims in court. Each reported case and lawsuit become a step toward better labor legislation and contribute to the creation of equal opportunities for all people irrespective of their gender, race, or age.
Reference
USA government. (2021). Labor laws and issues. USA.gov. Web.