Employment discrimination is a controversial issue in the United States. Employment discrimination is discrimination in the hiring, promotion, firing, and compensation of employees. Examples of discrimination include age, disability, equal pay, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race/color, religion, and gender. Over the years, the United States has enacted numerous laws to try to eliminate employment discrimination. While most legislation is effective, discrimination in the workforce still exists today. This article will focus on one of the main types of employment discrimination, racial discrimination. Unfortunately, racism existed in the past and still exists today in the job market. Discrimination due to ancestry, physical characteristics, culture and association is also considered a type of racial discrimination. Racial discrimination in the workplace can have harmful effects on a company's economy. Racial discrimination in the workplace occurs when an employer fails to hire or promote an individual because of his or her race. Racial discrimination also involves treating someone unfavorably because they are of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race (EEOC, 2013.). Employers use racial characteristics to create a disadvantage for a current or prospective employee. Racial discrimination in the job market costs companies millions every year. Legal fees and a possible loss of development resulting from the exclusion of a qualified employee are among the expenses faced by the company. For example, an employer can force qualified employees to leave their positions. This can potentially cost the company huge profits. Unfair treatment of employees can also lead to re...... middle of paper ......le VIILeadership Conferences. "The Leaders' Conference on Civil and Human Rights." The Leaders' Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Np, nd Web. 9 December 2013. http://www.civilrights.org/resources/civilrights101/employment.htmlThe Wage Project. “What is the role of the EEOC and who else can be a plaintiff in a consent decree?” What is the role of the EEOC and who else can be a plaintiff in a consent decree?. Np, nd Web. December 10, 2013. “U.S. Department of Labor v. Bank of America.” OFCCP-Bank of America cases. 2003. Web. December 9, 2013..US Legal.inc. “Affirmative Action Law and Legal Definition.” Affirmative Action Law and Legal Definition. Np, nd Web. 10 December. 2013. .