How to deal with discrimination in the workplace

If you’ve been treated differently from other people because of who you are, you might have been discriminated against. It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of:

• age
• being or becoming a transsexual person
• being married or in a civil partnership
• being pregnant or having a child
• disability
• race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
• religion, belief or lack of religion/belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

These are called ‘protected characteristics’.

Discrimination can come in different forms:

• direct discrimination – treating someone with a protected characteristic less favourably than others
• indirect discrimination – putting rules or arrangements in place that apply to everyone, but that put someone with a protected characteristic at an unfair disadvantage
• harassment – unwanted behaviour linked to a protected characteristic that violates someone’s dignity or creates an offensive environment for them
• victimisation – treating someone unfairly because they’ve complained about discrimination or harassment

If you feel you have been a victim of discrimination, there are numerous organisations that can help and support you. Please see the resource list below:

Discrimination at work – Citizen’s Advice

Discrimination: your rights

Guidance for workers about their rights under the Equality Act 2010

Dealing with discrimination in employment