Discrimination in the workplace can take many forms, from subtle biases to outright unfair treatment. UK employment legislation protects employees from discrimination based on characteristics such as age, gender, disability, race, religion, and sexual orientation. However, recognising when these protections are being violated is not always straightforward.
Workplace discrimination can be systemic, making it difficult to spot. While some cases involve direct mistreatment, others stem from company policies or unconscious bias. Recognising the signs is the first step towards addressing the issue and protecting your rights.
Unfair Treatment and Exclusion
A key sign of workplace discrimination is unfair treatment compared to colleagues in similar roles. This can include being regularly overlooked for promotions, training, or pay rises, even when your performance and qualifications match or exceed those of others.
Discrimination can also appear in performance evaluations. If you receive consistently negative feedback without justification, or stricter performance targets than your colleagues, bias may be at play. Additionally, exclusion from meetings, social events, or key projects can indicate an effort to isolate or limit your career progression.
Harassment and Hostile Work Environments
Harassment is a serious form of workplace discrimination that can make the work environment toxic. It can include verbal abuse, offensive jokes, or inappropriate remarks about a protected characteristic. While some harassment is overt, it can also be more subtle, such as persistent microaggressions or undermining comments.
A hostile work environment affects more than just the targeted individual. If employees feel unsafe or unsupported, workplace morale suffers, leading to stress, anxiety, and high staff turnover. Employers are legally required to address workplace harassment and create a safe and inclusive environment.
Unfair Dismissal or Redundancy
Discrimination may sometimes result in wrongful dismissal or unfair redundancy. This could happen if you are dismissed soon after requesting reasonable adjustments for a disability, returning from maternity leave, or reporting workplace misconduct.
Redundancy decisions must be fair and based on objective criteria. If a company is restructuring but retains less experienced staff while making you redundant, discrimination could be a factor. Employment legislation protects against dismissals or redundancies based on age, gender, race, or other protected characteristics.
Pay Disparities and Unjustified Demotions
Pay inequality is a common form of workplace discrimination. If you earn less than colleagues in similar roles with the same level of experience and responsibility, this could indicate unfair treatment.
Demotions without valid justification may also be a sign of discrimination. If your responsibilities are reduced without explanation, or if you are reassigned to a lesser role without performance-related reasoning, your employer may be acting unfairly. Salary structures and job roles should be based on merit rather than personal characteristics.
Seek Employment Law Advice
If you believe you could be facing workplace discrimination, contacting employment solicitors for expert employment law advice can help you understand your rights and take appropriate action. At DJP Solicitors, we specialise in employment law and have extensive experience supporting employees with discrimination claims in Aberdeen and beyond.
Our team can assess your situation, explain your options, and help you seek justice under employment legislation. For professional employment law advice, call our employment solicitors today.
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