Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation. Discrimination can occur in various forms, including direct and indirect discrimination. Direct discrimination happens when an employer treats an employee less favorably than someone else because of their characteristics. Indirect discrimination is when a working condition or rule disadvantages one group of people more than another. Discrimination can lead to a cascade of stress-related emotional, physical, and behavioral changes, and it can be damaging even if you haven’t been the target of overt acts of bias. Discrimination occurs when people are treated less favorably than others in a comparable situation only because they belong, or are perceived to belong to a certain group or category of people. Discrimination is harmful and perpetuates the violation of human rights.