Race discrimination at work: what it looks like and what to do

It's usually a pattern, not a slur

Most race discrimination today is quiet. It's the promotion that keeps going to someone else, the discipline that only seems to land on certain people, or the pay gap no one can explain.

California's Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, and national origin, and it protects hair texture and protective hairstyles like braids, locs, and twists.

Warning signs

• You're passed over for roles you're qualified for, again and again.
• You're paid less than coworkers doing the same job.
• Rules are enforced strictly for you and loosely for others.
• Comments about your accent, name, hair, or neighborhood.
• You're steered toward lower-visibility assignments.

Building your case

Keep notes with dates and names. Compare how others in similar roles were treated. Save performance reviews and emails. Those comparisons are often the strongest evidence in a discrimination case.

You generally have three years to file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. A lawyer can file it for you and handle the case from there.