Majority of the employers and people living in Poland are honest, open-minded and hospitable, but despite of this after arriving to Poland, alas, it may happen that you will face discrimination.
The subject of this article can take different shapes and a significant number of cases, especially taking place at work, constitute a serious infringement of law. In other words: not possessing the Polish citizenship cannot be an independent basis for worse treatment.
An unlawful violation of the equality principles is a situation when you face discrimination only due to specific feature, indicated by law as being under protection (especially: sex, faith, sexual identity, health condition, ethnic origin). However, there are exceptions when restrictions are permissible (yet the exceptions must result from the legal provisions – for example adequate state of health requirement can be justified under specific circumstances, like work at heights),
It should be noted, that discrimination is not only when it was the direct intention of person who committed it. Even unaware action can be regarded as contrary to applicable rules. Therefore, if you feel aggrieved by unequal treatment, the excuse of the person, who committed discrimination (especially your supervisor at work) is insufficient for him to avoid the responsibility.
Discrimination in the workplace may even take the form of mobbing or sexual harassment, which is even more stigmatized in Polish and European law, and the victim of such violence is particularly protected.
Usually, however, unequal treatment, normally does not take such an extreme form. The offender may take advantage of, for example, your lack of knowledge of the Polish language, or – even more so – count on your ignorance of your rights. The motivation of a dishonest supervisor or employee of a public institution may also be the desire to obtain illegal profit. Each such situation constitutes a violation of the law and you can defend yourself against it, also in court.
Unfortunately, even an easy case can be lost due to, for example, incorrect wording of the lawsuit, which is why myVisa experts can help you find the best way in this difficult situation.
Author: Michał Nowakowski
