Discrimination comes in many forms these include:
Direct discrimination happens when an employer treats an employee less favourably than someone else because
of age, race, disability, gender, faith or belief, sexuality or transgender status. For example, it would be
direct discrimination if a driving job was only open to male applicants.
There are limited circumstances in which an employer might be able to make a case for a genuine occupational requirement for the job. For
example, a Roman Catholic school may be able to restrict applications for a scripture teacher to baptised Catholics only.
Indirect discrimination is when a working condition or rule disadvantages one group of people more than another.
For example, saying that applicants for a job must be clean shaven puts members of some religious groups at a disadvantage.
Indirect discrimination is unlawful, whether or not it is done on purpose. It
is only allowed if it is necessary for the way the business works, and there
is no other way of achieving it. For example, the condition that applicants
must be clean shaven might be justified if the job involved handling food
and it could be shown that having a beard or moustache was a genuine hygiene risk.
You have the right not to be harassed or made fun of at work in a work-related setting (eg a social event). Harassment means
offensive or intimidating behaviour - sexist language or racial abuse, which aims to humiliate, undermine or injure its target. For example, allowing
displays or distribution of sexually explicit material or giving someone a potentially offensive nickname.
Victimisation means treating somebody less favourably than others because they tried to make, or made, a complaint about
discrimination. For example, it could be preventing you from going on training courses, taking unfair disciplinary action against you, or excluding
you from company social events.
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| Being treated unfairly for other reasons |
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If you are treated unfairly but it is not for one of the reasons listed above, it may be that you are being bullied. Bullying should never be acceptable
in the workplace, find out what you might be able to do about it.
More information on Discrimination in the workplace can be found here :
www.direct.gov.uk
