Discrimination at work

Discrimination at work

Feeling you have been discriminated against at work can be frightening, especially if it has happened more than once.

Discrimination is described as treating a person or particular group of people differently and is covered under the Equality Act 2010.  Discrimination at work includes age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex (gender) and sexual orientation.

Discrimination at work usually occurs when someone is treated less favourably because of one of the above characteristics and can be:

• direct, for example being dismissed for having a disability
• indirect, for example a pension scheme launched by your employer which you have to be a certain age to join
• harassment, for example being verbally abused because of your religion or belief
• victimisation, for example raising a grievance for sexual harassment and being treated unfavourably at work from then on as you are perceived to be a troublemaker

If you feel you have been discriminated against at work, you should make your employer aware.  The best way to do this is to raise a grievance in a letter setting out the date(s) of the incident(s) of discrimination, who was involved and what took place.

If you do need to take it further and would like to make a claim at the employment tribunal, discrimination issues usually need to be submitted to the employment tribunal within three months, that is three months less one day, from the date of the last incident of discrimination.

How employment law solicitors can help

If you feel you have been discriminated against at work and you're not sure what to do, contact us for a free initial chat.  A specialist employment law solicitor will be able to tell you if you have a potential claim and if it is something you can pursue.

In certain circumstances of discrimination, you may be able to obtain free advice and assistance.