Discrimination in the workplace based on health

Discrimination in the workplace based on health is not only unfair, but also illegal.Legal provisions are intended to protect employees against all forms of discrimination, including those based on their health condition.In this article, we will discuss existing legal provisions, various forms of discrimination in the workplace on the basis of health, legal consequences for employers, and share suggestions and recommendations regarding this difficult issue.

Existing legal provisions

Many countries have laws that prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on the health of employees.In the United States, for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from employment discrimination.Similar laws exist in many other countries such as Canada, the UK and Australia.

Forms of discrimination in the workplace due to health – examples

Health discrimination can take many forms.Here are some examples:

• Mobbing or intimidating an employee because of his or her illness or disability.
• Denying a promotion or raise to an employee because of his or her health.
• Failure to provide appropriate workplace adjustments to people with disabilities.
• Termination of an employment contract without justified cause related to the employee’s health.

Legal consequences

Employers who violate the provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of health may face serious legal consequences.These are among others:

• Financial penalties – employers may be obliged to pay compensation to people injured by discrimination.
• Reputation loss – companies that are publicly accused of discrimination may lose the trust of customers and business partners.
• Court proceedings – people discriminated against have the right to take the case to court, which may lead to long-term and expensive trials.

Summary

Health discrimination is a serious problem in the workplace, but there are laws in place to combat it.Employees have the right to equal treatment regardless of their health condition, and employers must act in accordance with applicable regulations.The legal consequences for those who violate these regulations are serious, so it is important that every employee can feel safe and protected in their workplace.

Your suggestions

If you witness or are a victim of health discrimination at work, do not hesitate to report the issue to the appropriate authorities or consult with a lawyer specializing in employment rights.Working together can help prevent these types of situations and protect workers’ rights.

Recommended articles

Below are links to other articles that may be of interest to you regarding workplace discrimination:

• How to recognize discrimination in the workplace?
• What are the rights of disabled workers?
• Ways to promote diversity and inclusion in your company

We encourage you to read and deepen your knowledge on this subject.