Gone are the days when many office workers had to don formal business attire. In fact, according to a recent Ranstand study, almost 80% of workplaces in the U.S. have casual dress codes. This means you probably can wear comfortable clothing during your workday.
Even though casual attire might be appropriate at your place of work, you always strive to wear professional clothing. If your employer makes comments about your appearance, though, you may be a victim of illegal sex discrimination.
The connection between appearance and sex discrimination
Regardless of whether your employer has a dress code, you should not have to deal with comments about your appearance. While some comments might be innocent, anything that implicates your sex or gender is likely to be inappropriate. This is especially true if your employer targets you while leaving your opposite-sex colleagues alone.
The consequences of sex discrimination
It can be tempting to grit your teeth and try to ignore possible sex discrimination at your workplace. Doing so, though, can be a mistake. After all, sex discrimination has some real consequences. For example, it is not uncommon for victims of sex discrimination to miss out on promotions, earn less and feel like outsiders.
Sex discrimination also can take a significant toll on your emotional well-being. In fact, according to Psychology Today, victims of sex discrimination at work tend to struggle with depression and other mental health issues.
Ultimately, even though you have a right to be free from sex discrimination at work, you might have to take prompt action to stop it.
