How to Support a Coworker Facing Hate
As DEI Comes Under Attack, Discrimination Is on the Rise
As many companies walk back their DEI commitments, incidents of hate and exclusion are being felt more deeply – especially by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and religious minority employees.
However, federal and state laws protect you from being treated differently in the workplace because of your protected class or characteristic including, but not limited to: race, religion, or national origin.
Learn more by visiting our Know Your Rights page.
Recognizing Workplace Hate
Workplace Hate Isn’t Always Loud
It can look like:
Racial slurs or "jokes"
Islamophobic or antisemitic remarks
Misgendering or deadnaming
Being constantly left out of meetings or opportunities
Retaliation after speaking up
If you witness this, it’s not just wrong, it may violate workplace policy and law.
How You Can Support the Victimized
Believe them & don't minimize, question, or disregard their experience.
Check in privately by asking: “How can I support you?”
Speak up & interrupt hate when it’s safe to do so. Say: “That’s not appropriate.”
Document what you see by keeping notes, dates, and names.
Don’t make it about you & center the impacted person’s needs.
Encourage Reporting the Incident
How to Report Workplace Hate:
Review your employer’s handbook & policies for complain procedures.
File a complaint with your supervisor, HR, or the employer’s designated individual.
Keep a record: document everything, including communications to the employer, who you spoke with, and what was said.
Report the incident to organizations like CA vs Hate at 211 or CAIR-CA here
Why Reporting Matters
Reporting not only creates accountability, but helps to engender a workplace culture of safety and respect.
Reporting helps:
Hold perpetrators accountable
Establish a record of harm
Raise awareness
Trigger investigations
Protect others from experiencing the same incidents
Speaking up makes it harder for hate to hide.
Download a KYR Business Card
Visit our guides and toolkits page to download a Know Your Rights business card.
