Työsuhdediskriminaatio

Työsuhdediskriminaatio refers to discrimination that occurs during an employment relationship. This can happen at any stage of employment, from recruitment and hiring to terms of employment, promotion, and termination. Finnish law prohibits discrimination based on grounds such as age, origin, nationality, language, religion, belief, disability, sexual orientation, or other personal reasons.

The purpose of legislation against työsuhdediskriminaatio is to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for all individuals in the workplace. Employers are legally obligated to treat all employees and applicants fairly and without prejudice. Discrimination can manifest in various forms, including direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimization.

Direct discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favorably than another in a comparable situation because of a protected characteristic. Indirect discrimination happens when a provision, criterion, or practice appears neutral but puts individuals with a particular protected characteristic at a disadvantage compared to others, unless it can be objectively justified by a legitimate aim. Harassment involves unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic, with the purpose or effect of violating a person's dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. Victimization occurs when an employee is treated unfavorably because they have made a complaint or raised concerns about discrimination.

If an individual believes they have been subjected to työsuhdediskriminaatio, they have legal recourse. This may involve seeking internal resolution within the workplace, reporting the matter to relevant authorities, or pursuing legal action. The aim is to provide redress for the discriminatory treatment and to prevent future occurrences.