A discrimination policy is a strict set of protocols applied in the workplace and other public arenas that states specific areas in which a person shall not be discriminated against. These include, sex, race, religious belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, marital status, color, national origin, height, weight, appearance or veteran status. To discriminate means to deny a person equal rights based on one of the above mentioned criteria. The most common areas of discrimination are hiring, promotion, performance evaluation and or dismissal from employment or membership. A person or company that fails to adhere to discrimination policies may face stiff penalties that include legal liabilities and hefty monetary fines.