1. Not being offered employment, being given less pay, or a lesser position because of your gender.

2. Being held to different standards or evaluated more harshly on account of your gender.

3. Being denied a promotion, pay raise, or training opportunity that is given to those of another gender who are equally or less qualified than you.

4. Being insulted, called derogatory names or slurs because of your gender, or hearing hostile remarks about others of a certain gender.

5. Being intentionally or repeatedly called by a name or referred to as a gender with which you don’t identify.

6. Being rejected for a job, forced on leave, or given fewer assignments because you’re pregnant.

7. Being subject to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or other harassment of a sexual nature, whether verbal or physical.

Among the most important laws which cover gender discrimination in the workplace is the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

This law covers hiring, dismissals, compensation, and all other aspects of employment, in addition to employment opportunities available.

The law applies to businesses with 15 or more employees and applies to all private, federal, state, and local employers.

Across many states, the law also applies to businesses with less than 15 employees thanks to local or state statutes

To investigate charges of discrimination in the workplace, the federal government formed the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Many states have laws against discrimination with stronger protections and greater coverage than the Civil Rights Act.

Learn your state laws by searching ? "anti-discrimination" online, along with the name of your state or city.

Investigation of state-level charges of discrimination is conducted by the Fair Employment Practices Agencies.

WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?

You have the right to:

• work in a safe and discrimination-free environment;

• speak out and protest against discrimination;

• report discriminatory behaviour to HR or your boss;

• make a copy of your employment file to use as evidence;

• file a complaint or charge of discrimination with a government agency or your state’s Fair Employment Practices Agency;

NB: there are strict deadlines when filing charges with government agencies, called “statutes of limitations”

• file a private legal case against your employer for discrimination;

• participate in investigations with government agencies or be a witness in court.

If you’re successful in your case (win your lawsuit or settle) you could be entitled to:

1. Compensation for financial losses.

2. Compensation for emotional distress.

3. Potentially getting your job back.

4. Punitive damages if you demonstrate that the employer acted with malice or showed “reckless indifference” to your rights.

5. Change employer policies and prevent others from suffering.

HOW CAN YOU AVOID GENDER DISCRIMINATION?