What to Do If You Face Discrimination at Work

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." — Martin Luther King Jr.

The Equality Act 2010 protects everyone in the UK — regardless of nationality — from discrimination based on characteristics including race, religion, sex, disability, age and pregnancy. Knowing this law exists is the first step to using it.

Discrimination can be direct (being treated worse because of who you are), indirect (a rule that disadvantages your group without good reason), or harassment (unwanted conduct that violates your dignity or creates a hostile environment). It can come from a manager, a colleague, or even company policy.

If this happens to you: write down what happened, when, who was present, and how it made you feel — as soon as possible, while details are fresh. Keep any messages, emails or documents. Raise a formal grievance with your employer in writing; many issues are resolved at this stage once there is a clear paper trail.

If the problem isn't resolved internally, ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) offers free, confidential early conciliation before any tribunal claim — and in most cases you must contact them before you can take a case to an Employment Tribunal. Be aware of the strict time limit: generally three months minus one day from the incident.

You do not have to accept unfair treatment as "just how things are". The law exists because dignity at work is a right, not a favour.

If you're unsure whether what happened to you was discrimination, talk it through with AF Consultancy — www.anastasia-fox-consultancy.com.