Dive Brief:

• "Microaggression," which one college training memo describes as "everyday, sometimes unintentional slights or stereotypes of others based on their race, gender and ethnicity, usually by the historically dominant race (i.e., whites) or gender (i.e., men)," is coming to the workplace according the Phoenix Business Journal.
• On college campuses, the recognition of microagression is resulting in growing complaints of sexist, racist and insensitive slights, according to the article.
• Now, some employment lawyers say, the workplace -- and employee discrimination lawuits -- soon will be affected by the trend.

Dive Insight:

Mary Ellen Simonson, partner with the law firm of Lewis Roca Rothberger, told the Business Journal she expects to see microaggression cited more in workplace discrimination and harassment complaints, though she said it's currently not widely known outside academic and race relations circles.

Shawn Oller, Phoenix managing partner and trial attorney specializing in employment cases for the Littler Mendelson PC law firm, told the Business Journal that he expects "to see it reflected in lawsuits."

In the article he said employers must address complaints as well as perceived and real insults or they could give a disgruntled or legitimately offended employee more ammunition. “Employers have to be more vigilant on language used in the workplace.” Oller said, adding that "ignoring complaints from offended employees puts employers at peril."