EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION SOLICITORS
Find out whether you have a discrimination case
Understand your options, from reconciliation to compensation
Support throughout your claim to make the process simple
Clear advice in plain English - no confusing legal jargon
DISCRIMINATION AT WORK
'Discrimination at work' or 'employment discrimination' are common terms used to describe the behaviour of an employer or one of their employees who unlawfully discriminate against an employee because of a protected characteristic.
The Equality Act 2010 is designed to prevent and protect against discrimination. It applies to employees, ex-employees, contract workers, applicants for employment and even self-employed workers in some cases. We refer below to employees but bear in mind that even if you aren’t actually an 'employee', but work for someone under a contractual arrangement, the law may still apply to you.
If you believe you have been discriminated against we can help you at any stage of your claim. Ideally it’s useful to speak to us early on. Taking the matter to Tribunal can be stressful and expensive and we may be able to support you in resolving the problem quickly and without the need for legal proceedings.
WHAT IS A PROTECTED CHARACTERISTIC?
TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION
Discrimination has a specific legal meaning, different from its everyday usage. Someone is discriminated against by their employer if they are treated less favourably than another employee who doesn’t have the relevant Protected Characteristic. The less favourable treatment must be because of the Protected Characteristic to be discriminatory and to allow a claim to be made.
Usually, discrimination will be shown by comparing the claimant to an employee without the protected discrimination. One exception to this rule is employees who are pregnant or who take maternity leave. There is no need to compare them with anyone else, so long as the unfavourable treatment is because the employee is pregnant or on maternity leave.
Direct Discrimination
This occurs when an employee is less favourably treated because of a Protected Characteristic. That is, there is a direct connection between the employer’s conduct and the Characteristic. Refusing to employ someone because they are from an ethnic minority background or not paying women the same as men, even though they do the same job would be direct discrimination.
A female employee’s appraisal duties are withdrawn while her male colleagues at the same grade continue to carry out appraisals. Although she was not demoted and did not suffer financial disadvantage, she feels demeaned in the eyes of her colleagues and those she managed. If the change of duties is based on her sex, this could be sexual discrimination.
Indirect Discrimination
This happens where an employer has a policy or practice that has the effect of treating employees with a Protected Characteristic less favourably than those who don’t have the Characteristic. It’s indirect because the policy or practice isn’t on the face of it discriminatory; it’s the effect of the policy that’s important. It doesn’t matter that the employer doesn’t intend to discriminate.
There may be times that indirect discrimination can be justified, for example where the policy is proportionate or necessary.
A hairdresser refuses to employ stylists who cover their hair, believing it is important for them to exhibit their flamboyant haircuts. It is clear that this criterion puts at a particular disadvantage both Muslim women and Sikh men who cover their hair. This may amount to indirect discrimination unless the criterion can be objectively justified.
Failure to make reasonable adjustments
The law provides protection for employees who are disabled as defined in the Equality Act 2010. Employers must make reasonable adjustments to the job or the workplace to make sure that an employee with a disability is on a level playing field with other colleagues. Employers who fail to do so may be liable for discriminating against the disabled employee by failing to make reasonable adjustments.
An employer has a policy that designated car parking spaces are only offered to senior managers. A worker who is not a manager, but has a mobility impairment and needs to park very close to the office, is given a designated car parking space. This is likely to be a reasonable adjustment to the employer's car parking policy.
Victimisation
Victimisation has a specific legal meaning, which is different to it's general use. Victimisation is where an employer subjects a worker to a detriment because the employee has done a 'protected act' or because the employer believes that the employee has done or may do a protected act in the future. A protected act includes:
Bringing legal proceedings under the Equality Act 2010
Giving evidence or information in connection with proceedings brought under the Equality Act 2010
Making an allegation that another person has done something in breach of the Equality Act 2010
The offence exists to prevent employers mistreating or punishing those who have claimed the protection of the law or tried to help others to do so.
An employer threatens to dismiss a staff member because he thinks she intends to support a colleague's sexual harassment claim. This threat could amount to victimisation, even though the employer has not actually taken any action to dismiss the staff member and may not really intend to do so.
A non-disabled worker gives evidence on behalf of a disabled colleague at an Employment Tribunal hearing where disability discrimination is claimed. If the non-disabled worker is subsequently refused a promotion because of that action, they would have suffered victimisation in contravention of the Act.
Harassment
Harassment happens when a person engages in unwanted conduct related to a Protected Characteristic, which has the purpose and effect of violating an employee’s dignity, creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the employee. The Equality Act 2010 prohibits three types of harassment:
Harassment related to a relevant Protected Characteristic
Sexual harassment
Less favourable treatment of an employee because they submit to, or reject, sexual harassment related to sex or gender reassignment
During a training session attended by both male and female workers, a male trainer directs a number of remarks of a sexual nature to the group as a whole. A female worker finds the comments offensive and humiliating to her as a woman. She would be able to make a claim for harassment, even though the remarks were not specifically directed at her.
MAKING A DISCRIMINATION CLAIM
Time limits
If you think that you have suffered from discrimination at work, you have the right to make a complaint to an Employment Tribunal within three months of the act complained about. It’s possible for employees to complain about several incidents of discrimination over time as long as the last one is within three months of the time that a complaint can be made.
The Employment Tribunal can extend the time for making a claim beyond three months if the Tribunal thinks it’s right to do so (it’s just and equitable to allow the claim to proceed). So please still speak to us even if something happened to you that you think was discrimination, but occurred more than three months ago.
Steps to take
The law on discrimination is detailed and complex. If you have been discriminated against at work, your options include:
Informal action: Talk to your employer and try to resolve the matter
Formal action: Use your company's grievance procedure or make a formal written complaint
Attempt conciliation: ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) We can help with this
Get in touch for support: We can support you to resolve the matter, whether by reaching an agreement with your employer or making employment tribunal claim
What could you expect from a successful claim of discrimination at work?
Compensation is the usual remedy for discrimination at work. There is no upper limit on the amount of compensation awarded. Before making a claim, it’s worthwhile checking what you are likely to be awarded if your claim was successful. It will allow you to decide if this is the course you want to take.
The Tribunal may also require your employer to act to remove the conditions which are causing the discrimination. If they fail to do so, you could receive compensation or your compensation could be increased.
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