Employment discrimination law in the United Kingdom

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In the United Kingdom, discrimination in employment or training is illegal when it is carried out on the basis of race, religion or belief, gender (this includes provisions for pregnancy, transgender status and marital status), sexual orientation, disability or age.

A worker who has suffered discrimination at work can enforce their rights by taking the employer to an Employment Tribunal. There are certain conditions that have to be fulfilled before this can happen, so it is generally recommended to seek advice before taking this type of action. Sources of advice include Trade Unions (for those who have membership), ACAS, employment law solicitors, local Citizens Advice Bureaux and independent organisations such as the Scottish Low Pay Unit.

[edit] Court decisions

In the Weaver v NATFHE race discrimination case, an Industrial Tribunal decided that a trade union’s principal obligation in race harassment cases is to protect the tenure of the accused employee. A member of a trade union making a complaint of workplace harassment against a fellow employee was not entitled to union advice and assistance, irrespective of the merit of the case, because the employee complained against could lose his job. The Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld the decision and extended the decision to cover complaints of sexist harassment. [1]