Discrimination
Discrimination
We work with businesses to implement legally compliant, inclusive practices and to provide robust legal defence if a discrimination claim arises.
We work with businesses to implement legally compliant, inclusive practices and to provide robust legal defence if a discrimination claim arises.
Law for life
Protecting Your Business While Promoting Equality
Under the Equality Act 2010, all employees, workers, job applicants and contractors are legally protected from discrimination based on certain personal characteristics — known as protected characteristics. For employers, this means ensuring your policies, procedures and culture actively prevent discrimination from recruitment through to termination.
law for life
What Is Discrimination in the Workplace?
Discrimination occurs when someone is treated less favourably or unfairly disadvantaged due to a protected characteristic. Claims can arise regardless of how long the individual has been employed and in some cases, even before employment starts.
Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful to discriminate against someone based on:
Discrimination can occur in a wide range of workplace situations, from job adverts, promotions and performance management, to redundancy selection, pay decisions and dismissals.
Law for life
Types of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment
Employers must understand that discrimination can take many different forms. Direct discrimination occurs when someone is treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic, while indirect discrimination arises when a policy or practice puts people with a protected characteristic at a disadvantage, unless it can be objectively justified.
Harassment involves unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. Victimisation happens when an individual is treated unfairly for making or supporting a complaint about discrimination. In addition, discrimination arising from disability refers to unfavourable treatment linked to a person’s disability, such as penalising an employee for absences connected to their condition.
