What is “employment discrimination”?

Employment discrimination refers to the unfair treatment of employees based on characteristics that are protected under various laws and regulations. These protected characteristics can include race, gender, age, religion, disability, and other personal attributes. When individuals are treated differently in their employment decisions—such as hiring, firing, promotions, or compensation—due to these protected characteristics, it constitutes discrimination.

This definition aligns with the legal framework established by laws such as the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other anti-discrimination legislation. The aim of these laws is to ensure that all individuals have equal employment opportunities and are not subjected to bias or prejudice at work.

In contrast, other options do not fully capture the essence of employment discrimination. Firing an employee without notice might be related to wrongful termination but does not pertain specifically to discriminatory practices based on protected traits. Providing benefits to only certain employees can suggest unfair treatment, but without the context of protected characteristics, it does not directly signify discrimination. Creating a hostile work environment involves behavior that intimidates or harasses but may not directly involve discrimination pertaining to protected categories in every instance. Thus, the core concept that defines employment discrimination is indeed the unfair treatment based on protected characteristics.