Management and Organizational Behavior (MOB) Exam 1 Practice 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Discrimination is the unfair or unequal treatment of people based on protected characteristics such as race, gender, religion, or other defined groups. The phrase “discriminatory actions directed at members of protected groups” describes exactly this idea: actions or policies that treat individuals differently and disadvantage them because of who they are. Inclusion, on the other hand, focuses on creating environments where people belong and participate; equity is about fairness in opportunities and outcomes; harassment refers to unwelcome or hostile conduct based on protected characteristics. While harassment can be a form of discriminatory behavior, the term that best captures the broad idea of biased actions toward protected groups is discrimination.