Discrimination at Work — The Equality Act and Your Rights
The Equality Act 2010 protects everyone in work from discrimination, harassment, and victimisation based on nine protected characteristics. Discrimination is one of the most serious workplace wrongs — and one of the most under-reported. This guide explains what discrimination looks like, your legal rights, and how to take action.
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The 9 protected characteristics
The Equality Act 2010 protects you from discrimination based on:
These protections apply to employees, workers, job applicants, apprentices, and in some cases self-employed contractors.
Types of discrimination
Treating you less favourably because of a protected characteristic. Example: not promoting a woman because of assumptions about childcare responsibilities.
A policy or practice that applies to everyone but puts people with a protected characteristic at a disadvantage. Example: requiring all staff to work Sundays, which disproportionately affects some religious groups.
Unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, or humiliating environment. Includes sexual harassment.
Treating you unfairly because you've made a complaint about discrimination or supported someone who has.
For disabled workers — failure to make changes to working arrangements or premises that would remove a substantial disadvantage.
Disability discrimination — reasonable adjustments
Employers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees and job applicants. This means changing something about how the work is done, the physical working environment, or providing auxiliary aids.
- ✓You can request adjustments at any stage of employment including recruitment
- ✓Examples include: flexible hours, home working, adapted equipment, adjusted duties, a phased return after illness
- ✓The employer must consider adjustments — they don't have to agree to every request, but must show the refusal is reasonable
- ✓Refusing to make an adjustment is discrimination unless the employer can justify it
- ✓You don't need a formal diagnosis to be covered — you need to show a "physical or mental impairment" with a "substantial and long-term" adverse effect on normal activities
What to do if you're being discriminated against
Compensation for discrimination
Unlike unfair dismissal, there is no cap on compensation for discrimination claims. A tribunal can award:
- ✓Compensation for financial loss (lost earnings, future loss)
- ✓Injury to feelings — from £1,100 to over £44,000 depending on severity
- ✓Personal injury if there's medical evidence of psychological harm
- ✓A recommendation that the employer takes steps to prevent future discrimination
- ✓ACAS uplift of up to 25% if the employer failed to follow the ACAS Code
Get advice about your specific situation
Ash is a free UK guidance assistant. Ask about your rights, get step-by-step guidance, and generate a formal letter if you need one.
Talk to Ash — it's freeNo sign-up · No account · Works for England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland