Your Right to a Fair and Equal Workplace

Discrimination is not just being treated differently; it is being treated unfairly because of who you are. The Equality Act 2010 is the primary piece of legislation that protects you from discrimination at work.

The Nine Protected Characteristics

The law prohibits discrimination based on the following nine characteristics:

  1. Age: Being treated unfairly because you are considered too old, too young, or are in a specific age group.

  2. Disability: Being treated less favourably due to a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Employers also have a duty to make reasonable adjustments.

  3. Gender Reassignment: Being treated unfairly because you are transitioning or have transitioned from one gender to another.

  4. Marriage and Civil Partnership: Being treated unfairly because you are married or in a civil partnership.

  5. Pregnancy and Maternity: Unfavourable treatment because you are pregnant or have recently given birth.

  6. Race: Being treated unfairly because of your colour, nationality, or ethnic or national origins.

  7. Religion or Belief: Being treated unfairly because of your religious or philosophical beliefs (or lack thereof).

  8. Sex: Being treated unfairly because you are a man or a woman.

  9. Sexual Orientation: Being treated unfairly because of who you are attracted to (e.g., bisexual, gay, heterosexual, or lesbian).

Types of Discrimination

  • Direct Discrimination: Treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic. For example, not promoting a woman because the manager believes she will want to start a family.

  • Indirect Discrimination: Applying a rule or policy to everyone that puts someone with a protected characteristic at an unfair disadvantage. For example, a blanket ban on headwear that negatively affects individuals of certain religious faiths.

  • Harassment: Unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that violates someone's dignity or creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment.

  • Victimisation: Treating someone badly because they have made or supported a complaint about discrimination.

  • Are you being treated unfairly? [Use our "Was I Discriminated Against?" checker]

  • Need to raise a formal complaint? [The Grievance Survival Toolkit]