{"id":1621,"date":"2022-01-11T04:02:35","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T04:02:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uk.legalvision.com.au\/?p=1621"},"modified":"2024-04-16T08:15:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T07:15:41","slug":"employment-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employment-discrimination\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Employment Discrimination in the UK?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Employment discrimination can occur in several ways, whether it be intentional or the result of unconscious bias. Whatever the case, in the UK, discrimination at work is illegal and most employers try their best to avoid it. Nonetheless, you could face an employment tribunal for unlawful discrimination. If you end up in this situation, the process will not only impact the reputation of your business. I<\/span>t<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> will also cost you time and money, and create low staff morale. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ultimately, as an employer, you have a responsibility towards your employees and your workplace as a whole, and most employers would never intentionally discriminate. However, discrimination may not always be obvious to you.&nbsp;Therefore, this article will explain employment discrimination in the UK with some examples<\/span> to<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> help you prevent unlawful employment discrimination from taking place.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What is Discrimination?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Discrimination is when you treat somebody less favourably based on a protected characteristic. In the UK, this is illegal. The protected characteristics are:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">race, which includes colour, ethnic origin, national origin and nationality;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">sex;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">being pregnant or on maternity leave;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">having a disability;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">religion or belief;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">sexual orientation;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">age;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">being married or in a civil partnership; or<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">gender reassignment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Discrimination based on a protected characteristic does not have to be because your employee has that characteristic. For example, it may be because they are associated with someone with that characteristic. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Furthermore, it could also be because your employee has complained about discrimination or helped someone who has been discriminated against within the business. This is known as discrimination by association or associative discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Discrimination is illegal in many settings, including:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">in the workplace;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">in education;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">towards a consumer;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">through public services;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">when renting or buying property; and&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">through a <\/span>private club or association membership<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or in the context of a guest.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Discrimination<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are four main types of discrimination. These are explained in the table below.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Direct Discrimination<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is where you directly treat someone less favourably than another based on protected characteristics.<\/span><\/p> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/unfair-disadvantage\/\">Indirect discrimination<\/a><\/span><\/p> <\/td><td> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You may not intentionally discriminate. However, where the actions you carry out to everyone or a group of people unfairly disadvantage those with a protected characteristic, this is indirect discrimination.<\/span><\/p> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/bullying-or-harassment\/\">Harassment<\/a><\/span><\/p> <\/td><td> <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is where you carry out unwanted behaviour towards another, which could affect their dignity or create offensive surroundings based upon a protected characteristic.<\/span><\/p> <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Victimisation<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><td>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Victimisation is where you treat someone unfairly on the basis that they have made a complaint about harassment or discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How Can Discrimination Take Place at Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Discrimination can occur in the workplace as direct, indirect, harassment and victimisation based on protected characteristics. However, this can also occur outside work. For instance, it can be through a job advert, offering job references, and in other situations.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> In practice, employees are protected in terms of:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">dismissal;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">employment terms and conditions;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">payment and benefits;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">training;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">recruitment;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/make-employee-redundant\/\">redundancy<\/a>; and&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">promotion and transfer opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Importantly, 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For example, say you run a healthcare centre aimed at Muslim women. In this case, discriminating by only employing women may be appropriate. However, for discrimination to be lawful, you must justify it. For example, you need to prove it was appropriate and necessary regarding your business&#8217; needs. Furthermore, you must prove it is proportionate in terms of the context.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Examples of Discrimination&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Below are some examples in the workplace.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Suppose you fail to offer a promotion to a woman based on her sex and instead offer the promotion to a male less qualified than her. In that case, this would be direct discrimination and unlawful.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suppose<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> you ask in an application form if the applicant has any disabilities which will make the job challenging, this would be direct discrimination and is unlawful.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">S<\/span>uppose <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">you do not offer a promotion to an employee concerning working with alcohol as you believe their name means they are Muslim, and you think they would not want the role. This may be discrimination by perception. Therefore, it is a form of direct discrimination and is unlawful.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recruiting internally where all your staff are already male. By doing this, you are only allowing men to apply for the position and discriminating based on sex. However, this is indirect discrimination as you use a rule for all potential applications. In doing so, you are putting a group with a protected characteristic at an unfair disadvantage.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Offering a job based on several years of experience. Indeed, if you do this, you are potentially indirectly discriminating based on age, as younger people may not have had the knowledge you require.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A situation where employees are discriminating against each other. Importantly, if your employees discriminate against each other, you could be held responsible for this as an employer. Indeed, the law refers to this as \u2018vicarious liability\u2019. This means if the court links the discrimination to the employee\u2019s work, you may be held accountable for it. However, you may not be liable if you can prove that you took reasonable steps to prevent it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How to Prevent Employment Discrimination<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As an employer, you must do what you can to prevent discrimination from happening in the workplace. To do this, you must:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ensure you have an up-to-date work policy on equality, diversity and inclusion;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">give your employees anti-discrimination training;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">have clear procedures in place for employees to make complaints; and<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ensure managers regularly meet with their staff to create opportunities to discuss issues and create good working relationships.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ultimately, as an employer, you must be clear about what employment discrimination is. Indeed, you must understand when a court considers it illegal and when it may be appropriate. You can also be held liable for the unlawful discrimination your employees carry towards each other. If unlawful discrimination occurs in employment, you could face an employment tribunal regardless of the time the employee has been with you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you need help understanding employment discrimination in the UK, our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment-lawyers-lp\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">experienced employment lawyers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents for a low monthly fee. So call us today on <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0808 196 8584<\/a> or visit our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/membership\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">membership page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1641872495416\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is employment discrimination?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Employment discrimination is where you or another employee treats another less favourably because of a protected characteristic.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1641872509807\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is it always unlawful to discriminate in employment?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">There are instances when employment discrimination is considered lawful. Indeed, you must have a legitimate business reason that you can objectively justify. This means your employment discrimination must be necessary, appropriate and proportionate.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n<div class=\"not-prose m-feedback-prompt\">\n    <!-- Thumbs up\/down bar -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__main\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__title\">Was this article helpful?<\/div>\n        <div>\n            <!--span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button--text\">Thanks!<\/span-->\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--yes\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:yes\" aria-label=\"Agree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-up fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--no\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:no\" aria-label=\"Disagree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-down fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Feedback form -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--thanks \">\n            <div>Thanks!<\/div>\n            <p>\n                We appreciate your feedback \u2013 your submission has been successfully received.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form id=\"contact-form\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--form\" action=\"\" method=\"post\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"authenticity_token\" name=\"authenticity_token\" value=\"9eb4f72322\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1621\" \/>            <input value=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employment-discrimination\/\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenturl\"\n                   id=\"currenturl\">\n            <input value=\"What is Employment Discrimination in the UK?\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenttitle\"\n                   id=\"currenttitle\">\n            <label>\n                <!-- display on thumbs-up -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--yes\">\n                    Can you tell us <span class=\"font-semibold\">why<\/span> you found it helpful?\n                <\/span>\n\n                <!-- display on thumbs-down -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--no text-lg\">\n                    How can we better improve this article?\n                <\/span>\n                <textarea name=\"feedbackmessage\" id=\"feedbackmessage\" required><\/textarea>\n            <\/label>\n\n            <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--error\" id=\"form-submit-error\"><\/div>\n            <button id=\"submit-contact-form-button\" type=\"submit\" name=\"commit\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--submit\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:submit\">\n                Submit            <\/button>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Employment discrimination can occur in several ways, whether it be intentional or the result of unconscious bias. Whatever the case, in the UK, discrimination at work is illegal and most employers try their best to avoid it. Nonetheless, you could face an employment tribunal for unlawful discrimination. If you end up in this situation, the<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employment-discrimination\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;What is Employment Discrimination in the UK?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13326,"featured_media":640,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"3262,1,862,1724,2030,1306","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[20,21,40,219,332],"class_list":["post-1621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employment","tag-small-business","tag-medium-business","tag-dispute-resolution","tag-employment-law","tag-discrimination"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is Employment Discrimination? | LegalVision UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the UK, employment discrimination is illegal. 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