What is workplace discrimination?

Discrimination in the workplace can occur in many different ways. In this article we aim to break down the list of protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010, which provides legal protection to employees.

Protected characteristics encompass fundamental parts of you as an individual, and cannot be legally discriminated against by an employer.

List of protected characteristics:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnerships
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

Examples of discrimination

• Direct Discrimination – Where an employee is treated less favourably than their colleagues due to one or more of the above protected characteristics.
• Indirect Discrimination – Where a workplace practice or infrastructure is not in place with the intention to discriminate or disadvantage, but ends up doing so. An example may be where a task expected to be manageable by all ends up being difficult for an employee with a disability.
• Harassment – This is when an employee is targeted in some way, creating a humiliating, hostile or offensive working environment which in some way intentionally connects with a protected characteristic.
• Victimisation – This is when an employee is punished in some way for reporting something they believe to be unfair, or raise a complaint that they are being discriminated against.

Could I be eligible to take legal action?

If you have raised a grievance with your employer and the situation has either not changed, has become worse, or has not been looked into at all – you may be eligible to make a legal claim for compensation against them.

Further reading

Workplace discrimination, harassment and bullying – Oakwood Solicitors

Stress at work claims – Oakwood Solicitors

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