Everyone wants a career where they can feel fulfilled, accomplished, and satisfied. Unfortunately, all it takes is one or two coworkers with ill will to sour a workplace experience. Many workers face discrimination from peers and supervisors for things like age, race, gender, sexual preference, religion, and more. While there are laws against workplace discrimination, it's ultimately up to the employee to take an initial stand and defend their rights. If you're struggling with workplace discrimination, here are a few tips on how to protect yourself:

Talk to your employer. The first step is to notify your employer that the discrimination is happening. Many discrimination victims don't do this because they fear it will make the discrimination worse. However, it's almost always incumbent on the discrimination victim to shed light on the issue. Very few companies will proactively address discrimination because they don't want to make themselves liable.

Talk to your boss about the behavior. If your boss is the one doing the discriminating, talk to his or her boss. At best, the employer will take action and the discrimination will stop. At the very least, you will have brought it to their attention and can use their inaction to build a future case in court.

Document everything. Whether the issue is settled in court or in the company, you will likely need documentation and proof of the discrimination. Keep a journal of every form of discrimination you face, who was responsible for the discrimination, and when it happened. If there are any physical objects involved, such as hurtful notes left at your desk or damaged personal items, save them. All of these items will be useful should you have to press the issue going forward.

Contact the EEOC. The EEOC is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. They have offices in every state and are responsible for the enforcement of equal opportunity laws in the workplace. If you contact them, they will likely follow up with your employer, possibly at the corporate level. That kind of attention from a regulatory agency usually spurs action. If your employer wasn't taking your claims seriously before, they may be more inclined to do so after a call or visit from the EEOC, as regulatory action could result in heavy fines.

If you take all these steps and nothing improves, consider contacting a discrimination attorney like the Law Office of Faye Riva Cohen, P.C. They can analyze the situation, advise you of whether legal action is necessary, and represent you in court and settlement negotiations.