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Human Resources vocabulary · Employee Relations

Discrimination

Meaning in human resources, with examples

/dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/nounCommon term

In human resources, discrimination means: Treating a person unfairly or less well than others because of who they are, for example because of their sex, age, race, religion or disability.

In Turkish: ayrımcılık, ayrımcı muamele

How it is used

Central to employment law and HR policy. In the UK, the characteristics protected by law are called protected characteristics. Discrimination can be direct or indirect and applies to hiring, pay, promotion and dismissal.

Example sentences

  1. The policy makes it clear that age discrimination in hiring is not allowed.

  2. He claimed that the decision not to promote him was discrimination.

Common collocations

  • age discrimination
  • sex discrimination
  • indirect discrimination
  • claim of discrimination
  • anti-discrimination policy
  • harassmentUnwanted behaviour that makes a person feel offended, frightened or humiliated, such as insulting comments, threats or unwanted sexual attention.
  • diversity and inclusionPolicies and practices that aim to employ people from different backgrounds and to make sure everyone feels respected and able to take part at work.
  • unfair dismissalEnding an employee's contract without a fair reason or without following a fair procedure, which the employee may be able to challenge legally.
  • grievanceA formal complaint by an employee about how they are treated at work, for example about pay, workload, a manager's behaviour or discrimination.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Employee Relations

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