DISCRIMINATION IN THE EMPLOYMENT PROCESS AND AT WORK BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION

Ustavno zagotovljena pravica do enakosti, brez kakršnegakoli razlikovanja na podlagi osebnih okoliščin, predstavlja eno izmed temeljnih človekovih pravic. Za zagotavljanje enakega obravnavanja posameznikov in različnih skupin oseb na vseh področjih družbenega življenja je neizogibno potrebna natančna zakonska opredelitev varstva pred diskriminacijo. Prepoved diskriminacije je pravno regulirana v določilih mnogih dokumentov, sprejetih na mednarodni in nacionalni ravni. Diskriminacijo lahko najbolj splošno opredelimo kot kakršnokoli razlikovanje, ki ni objektivno utemeljeno ter je nerazumno in škodljivo za posameznika ali določeno skupino oseb. Do diskriminacije posameznikov, predvsem v sferi delovnega prava, lahko prihaja na podlagi različnih osebnih okoliščin. Ena izmed teh okoliščin je tudi spolna usmerjenost. Homoseksualnost v sodobni, izrazito heteroseksualno usmerjeni družbi, še vedno predstavlja tabu. Istospolno usmerjene osebe so zaradi množičnih predsodkov in negativnih stereotipov pogosto odrinjene na sam rob družbe. Zaradi svoje spolne usmerjenosti velikokrat postanejo tarča posmeha, zbadljivk, norčevanja, nadlegovanja in celo nasilja, in to predvsem v delovnem okolju, vse to pa nima negativnega vpliva samo na njihovo splošno počutje, samopodobo, samozavest, zdravje itd., pač pa lahko v skrajnih primerih celo ogrozi njihovo eksistenco. Posameznikova poklicna pot naj bi zrcalila njegovo strokovno usposobljenost, vložen trud in uspešnost pri opravljanju dela, nikakor pa ne bi smela biti odvisna od njegovih osebnih okoliščin. Potencialno nevarnost za diskriminacijo istospolno usmerjenih oseb predstavljajo skoraj vsa področja v procesu zaposlovanja in na trgu dela. Izsledki raziskav, opravljenih na nacionalni in evropski ravni, prikazujejo jasno sliko stanja razširjenosti homofobične diskriminacije v delovnem okolju. Navkljub obširni prepovedi tovrstne diskriminacije v nacionalnih in mednarodnih pravnih aktih, je v praksi neenakopravno obravnavanje istospolno usmerjenih oseb pri zaposlovanju in delu še vedno močno razširjeno. Prav zato se, predvsem z namenom zagotavljanja enakopravnosti pripadnikov spolnih manjšin, poudarja vedno večja vloga različnih nevladnih organizacij, ki delujejo na tem področju.Constitutionally guaranteed right to equality, without any discrimination based on personal circumstances, represents one of the fundamental human rights. The precise legal definition of protection against discrimination is inevitably needed in order to ensure equal treatment of individuals and different groups of people in all areas of social life. The prohibition of discrimination is legally regulated in provisions of a number of documents adopted at the international and national level. Discrimination may be most generally defined as any distinction, which is not objectively justified and is also unreasonable and detrimental to the individual or specific group of people. Discrimination against individuals, especially in the sphere of labour law, can occur on grounds of different personal circumstances. One of these circumstances is sexual orientation. In modern, explicitly heterosexually oriented society, homosexuality is still a taboo. As a result of the widespread prejudices and negative stereotypes, homosexuals are often pushed to the edge of society. Because of their sexual orientation they often become targets of ridicule, teasing, mockery, harassment and even violence, especially in the working environment, and all this does not only have negative effect on their general well-being, self-esteem, confidence, health, etc., but can in extreme cases even threaten their existence. An individual’s career path should reflect his professional qualifications, efforts and efficiency in preforming his work, and should therefore not depend on his personal circumstances. Nearly all sectors of the employment process and of the labour market represent a potential risk for discrimination of homosexuals. Results of the researches, which were conducted on national and European level, show a clear picture of the prevalence of homophobic discrimination in the workplace. Despite an extensive prohibition of such discrimination in both national and international legal acts, the unequal treatment of homosexuals in employment and at work is still widely spread in practice. That is exactly why, particularly in order to ensure equality of members of sexual minorities, the increasing role of various non-governmental organizations working in this field is being emphasised