What characterizes unfair discrimination in employment?

Unfair discrimination in employment is characterized by decisions that are not grounded in merit or job relevance. This can manifest when employers base hiring, promotion, or salary decisions on factors such as race, gender, age, or other characteristics that do not pertain to an individual's qualifications or potential to perform in their role. Such practices violate principles of fairness and equity in the workplace, as they detract from the emphasis on a person's abilities and contributions.

In contrast, other options involve practices that are either based on objective criteria or align with established policies, which do not contribute to unfair discrimination. For example, making decisions solely based on seniority (as in the first choice) can be seen as a predictable or standard practice in certain contexts, while company policies (the last choice) are typically designed to ensure fairness and consistency in employment practices. Employment decisions that are job-related and objective (the second choice) inherently focus on the skills and experiences relevant to the job, thereby avoiding any discrimination that does not concern job performance.