No employees should be discriminated at work for any reason. Not only does this make the time at work unpleasant, it can also lead to legal troubles for the employer. There are no good reasons for people to have to deal with this type of behavior.
The effects of being subjected to discrimination vary greatly. It is imperative that anyone who is being discriminated against have an idea about what might come from the situation. This can help you to realize that what you are going through is perfectly normal. Here are some impacts that you might experience:
Emotional response
Having to listen to someone speak negatively about any aspect of your life can have a negative effect on your emotions. You have to think carefully about what is really true so that you can focus on reality instead of falling victim to the type of thinking that discrimination can induce.
Even if you aren’t the victim of the discrimination, you might still have an emotional reaction to hearing or witnessing this type of behavior. These can be difficult to work through, but you will have to do your best to make this happen.
Stress and health effects
The stress of having to deal with discriminatory situations can lead to serious health impacts due to the stress. You might suffer from high blood pressure, increased body temperature and a faster heart rate. Some people will experience an increase in their breathing rate. Trying to take deep breaths and calm down can reduce the immediate health effects that come with stress of this magnitude.
When you are dealing with the aftermath of discrimination, it is easy to dwell on what was said or done. Instead, you must turn the focus toward yourself. You need to take time to heal from the incident.
Working through the matter
There is a chance that you might need to seek professional mental health help. The treatments you undergo can include many different things, such as learning the tools to help you reduce stress and cope with depression. One thing that may help is to take an active role in preventing it from happening again. Discrimination complaints to the appropriate parties is a good first step.