FAQs

1. What are the protected characteristics?

   The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination in relation to the following protected characteristics:

   • age;
   • disability;
   • gender reassignment;
   • marriage and civil partnership;
   • race;
   • religion or belief;
   • sex;
   • sexual orientation; and
   • pregnancy and maternity.

    

2. What types of discrimination are there?

   The Equality Act 2010 protects against many forms of prohibited, discriminatory conduct, such as:

   • Direct discrimination, which is less favourable treatment of one person compared to another because of a protected characteristic;
   • Indirect discrimination, which is where treatment which appears to be the same for everyone in fact adversely one group of people compared to another;
   • Harassment, which is where an individual is subjected to unwanted conduct which is related to their protected characteristic and which violates their dignity or creates an environment which is intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive to them;
   • Victimisation, which is where an individual is subjected to a detriment because they have raised a complaint of discrimination.
3. Will I be entitled to compensation if my employer has discriminated against me?

   If you are successful in an Employment Tribunal claim of discrimination, you are likely to be awarded compensation for any losses of earnings which have resulted from the discrimination you have suffered. You are also likely to receive an award for injury to feelings, which  is designed to compensate you for the hurt caused by the discrimination you have suffered.

4. Are there any qualification periods or time limits for bringing a discrimination claim?

   There is no qualifying period of employment needed to make a discrimination claim. However, claims must be brought within three months of the date of the discriminatory act or omission which you are complaining about.

   Where the discrimination you have suffered took place over a period of time, the conduct is treated as if done at the end of the period, which means that any claim must be brought within three months of the end of the period.