As an employee, you want to do all you can to avoid disputes within your workplace. However, it’s not always possible, no matter how hard you try.
Discrimination in the workplace can be particularly unsettling. Workplace discrimination can take various forms and can have severe consequences.
Employees who are subjected to discrimination from an employer can feel powerless and at a loss to know what to do. Being discriminated against in the workplace can result in an employee feeling demotivated, anxious and isolated. It can lead to mental health issues and have a detrimental impact on an employee’s mood and career prospects.
In certain situations, workplace discrimination can also lead to an employee quitting their job, which can result in loss of earnings and put an individual under considerable financial strain.
Recognising the signs that you might be facing discrimination by an employer and seeking help at an early stage can help.
In this blog, our experienced Employment lawyers answer some frequently asked questions about discrimination at work.
What is discrimination in the workplace?
Workplace discrimination is when an employer treats an employee less favourably than others because of a certain characteristic.
Examples of discrimination at work can include a woman being paid less than a man to do a comparable job, someone being overlooked for promotion because of their race, an individual not being offered training opportunities because of their age, and an employee being harassed because of a physical disability.
What laws protect individuals from workplace discrimination?
The Equality Act 2010 protects people against discrimination at work.
Under the Equality Act, it is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of certain ‘protected characteristics’.
There are nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010:
- Age.
- Gender reassignment.
- Being married or in a civil partnership.
- Being pregnant or on maternity leave.
- Disability.
- Race, including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin.
- Religion or belief.
- Sex.
- Sexual orientation.
What are the different types of workplace discrimination?
The Equality Act 2010 recognises four main types of discrimination:
- Direct discrimination. This means treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic.
- Indirect discrimination. When everyone is treated the same but people with protected characteristic are put at a disadvantage, for example, if a company puts in place a policy stating that all staff must work on a Saturday, even if this runs contrary to your religious beliefs.
- Harassment. This is defined as ‘unwanted or offensive behaviour related to a protected characteristic’ and can include sexual harassment or spreading malicious rumours about someone at work.
- Victimisation. This is when someone is treated less favourably as a result of being involved with a discrimination or harassment complaint, for example, labelling someone a troublemaker or leaving them out.
The law protects you against discrimination at work, including in relation to:
- Dismissal.
- Employment terms and conditions.
- Pay and benefits.
- Promotion and transfer opportunities.
- Training.
- Recruitment.
- Redundancy.
If you receive less favourable treatment because of a protected characteristic that puts you at a disadvantage in one of these areas, you may be a victim of workplace discrimination.
What should I do if I think I am being discriminated against at work?
Dealing with discrimination in the workplace can be distressing and overwhelming, particularly if you are unaware of your rights.
If you feel that you have been mistreated or dismissed unfairly from your job, seeking prompt, considerate advice from a specialist employment lawyer is vital.
At Bowsers Solicitors, our experienced employment law solicitors assist individuals in and around Fenland with their workplace discrimination claims, including discrimination based on age, race, religion or sexual orientation.
If you are looking for employment law advice, please contact our experienced employment lawyers today on 01945 583194 (Wisbech) or 01354 652606 (March), or email reception@bowsers.co.uk. Alternatively, you can fill in our contact form.
How can you prove discrimination in the workplace?
If you think you are being discriminated against at work, it can help to keep a record of what happens. This can include:
- Names of the parties involved.
- Dates the discrimination occurred.
- What it involved.
- Who said what.
- Any evidence you may have, such as emails or social media messages.
- Details of any witnesses.
- Noting down how it makes you feel.
It can also be useful to familiarise yourself with an employer’s internal policies to check that they follow the correct procedures if you raise any concerns.
If you think that you have faced discrimination in the workplace, an experienced employment law solicitor will be able to advise on your case and recommend the best way to proceed.
Solicitor for Workplace Discrimination Near Me
If employers fail to adhere to the strict laws and regulations regarding preventing workplace discrimination, they are likely to face costly repercussions.
At Bowsers Solicitors, we will hold accountable any employer who has discriminated against an employee by pursuing the case and securing for employees the compensation they deserve.
From our offices in Wisbech and March, we offer practical and cost-effective legal advice to clients across Cambridgeshire on various employment law issues.
Our employment law service includes legal advice on:
- Unfair dismissal.
- Redundancies.
- Discrimination.
- Settlement agreements.
- Employment tribunals.
- Maternity, paternity and parental leave.
- National minimum wage.
For legal advice on workplace discrimination claims, please contact our experienced employment lawyers today on 01945 583194 (Wisbech) or 01354 652606 (March), or email reception@bowsers.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can fill in our contact form by clicking here.
