Workplace discrimination solicitors in Leicester

The Equality Act 2010 protects employees, workers and job applicants from discrimination because of nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Types of discrimination

• Direct discrimination: being treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic.
• Indirect discrimination: a rule or practice that applies to everyone but puts people with a characteristic at a particular disadvantage, and can’t be justified.
• Harassment: unwanted conduct related to a characteristic that violates your dignity or creates a hostile environment. Sexual harassment is dealt with specifically, and employers now have a duty to take reasonable, and increasingly all reasonable, steps to prevent it.
• Victimisation: being treated badly because you’ve complained about discrimination or helped someone else to.
• Disability-specific claims: failure to make reasonable adjustments, and discrimination arising from disability.

What to do

Keep a record: dates, what was said, who was there, emails and messages. Raise a written grievance if you can, which gives the employer the chance to put things right and creates a record. Take advice early, because the time limits are short and early conciliation through Acas is required before a tribunal claim.

For employers

Clear policies, training for managers, prompt and fair investigation of complaints, and a sensible approach to reasonable adjustments reduce both the risk of claims and their cost. Employers can be liable for discrimination by their employees unless they took all reasonable steps to prevent it.

Common questions