Though a lot of people are fortunate enough to work in a friendly and welcoming workplace, this isn’t always the case. A surprising number of people are faced with discrimination at work, either from managers or other colleagues. Discrimination at work can have a serious impact on your professional and personal happiness, and it’s not something that you should ignore. Though it can be tempting to rise above discrimination, discrimination at work is illegal and steps can be taken to rectify the damage. It can impact your career, mental health, wellbeing and career progression. But, discrimination at work shouldn’t be tolerated and discrimination at work solicitors are there to help.

Taking a Stand Against Workplace Discrimination

Under the Equality Act 2010, employees cannot be discriminated against because of a protected characteristic. These are age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity. If you are discriminated against at work because of any of these characteristics, employment solicitors can step in and help you fight the case.

If you are discriminated against at work, it’s important to document everything, and start keeping records of everything that happens. This includes dates and times of the discrimination, details of what happened, names of anyone who witnessed the incident and copies of any documentation that backs up what you’re saying. This includes emails, letters and recorded meetings. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case will be and the better chance your employment tribunal solicitor will have of getting justice.

If you feel confident enough, you might want to take a stand by addressing the issue directly. If it’s a minor incident, you could find that a calm and professional conversation with the person involved might be enough to solve the problem. Sometimes, the suggestion that you could take legal action is enough to make them stop. But, if the behavior is ongoing and more serious, it’s usually best to report it through official channels and enlist the help of discrimination at work solicitors.

Reporting Workplace Discrimination

There are a handful of ways to report workplace discrimination, one of which is by taking your case to an employment tribunal. Time limits apply, so it’s important to act quickly and having an employment tribunal solicitor helping can make the process a lot easier to manage. If you have been unfairly dismissed from your role as a result of the discrimination, report the matter to unfair dismissal solicitors and follow their lead. You can also report the problem to ACAS, which is a free service that helps resolve workplace disputes or if you’re a member of a trade union, they can provide legal advice and support throughout the process.

Workplace discrimination cases can be complex, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the rules surrounding what is classed as discrimination. Consulting with an employment lawyer is key, especially if you are worried about professional or personal retaliation occurring after reporting the incident.