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Native Americans and workplace discrimination

On Behalf of | Nov 29, 2017 | Workplace Discrimination |

A recent poll shows that nearly one-third of Native Americans have experienced harassment or discrimination in the workplace. Texas is an at-will employment state, which means that without an employment contract, Houston employers can fire employees for any reason, absent discrimination or other unlawful reason for termination.

The survey questioned Native Americans about their experiences in the workplace in terms of being paid equally and finding jobs. Researchers found that 33 percent of the Native Americans polled stated they had personally experienced discrimination regarding equal pay or being considered for a promotion. 31 percent had experienced discrimination when applying for jobs.

Native Americans living in areas where Natives are the minority experienced more workplace discrimination (54 percent) compared to those who were living in areas where the majority of the population is Native American, who experienced workplace discrimination applying for jobs and receiving equal pay at a rate of 22 percent.

Overall, 75 percent of Native Americans surveyed believed that discrimination against Native people exists in America today. The survey found that 41 percent believed that individual prejudice is the biggest problem while 39 percent believed that laws and government policies are the largest problem. Sixteen percent believed that both problems are equally to blame.

A person who has experienced race discrimination in the workplace may wish to consult an attorney experienced in employment law. An employment law attorney may be able to help clients understand what type of behavior constitutes discrimination. For example, the use of racial slurs, insults and inappropriate joking may all constitute unlawful discrimination depending on the facts of the case. An attorney may be able to help clients experiencing discrimination learn about what steps they should take to protect themselves, such as reporting unlawful conduct to their human resources department, gathering documentation and filing claims with the appropriate agencies and courts.

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