What type of discrimination occurs when an employee is dismissed due to their recent marriage?

The situation described, where an employee is dismissed due to their recent marriage, constitutes direct discrimination. This type of discrimination occurs when an individual is treated less favorably than others because of a specific characteristic—in this case, marital status. Direct discrimination is often clear cut; it involves a straightforward action taken against a person based on a characteristic protected by law, such as age, race, sex, or marital status.

In this context, dismissing an employee solely for being married is a clear example of treating them differently because of their marital status. This type of unfair treatment is typically prohibited under employment discrimination laws, as it directly targets a personal status rather than affecting a group differently based on a policy or practice.

Indirect discrimination, on the other hand, would involve a neutral policy that disproportionately affects individuals of a certain characteristic. Victimization refers to treating someone poorly because they made a complaint or supported someone in making a complaint about discrimination. Harassment involves unwelcome behavior that creates a hostile work environment. These concepts, while related to discrimination, do not specifically apply to the scenario of marriage-related dismissal.