Understanding discrimination
An overview of the different types of discrimination
Discrimination isn’t always obvious, but it has a major impact on employees and businesses alike.
From missed promotions to workplace exclusion, discriminatory practices (intentional or not) can lead to:
A disengaged workforce
Reputational damage
Legal action
It stops people from being unfairly treated because of things such as:
race
religion
gender
disability
It makes sure we all have the right to equality in the workplace, education, and public services.
Favouring younger employees over older ones, or vice versa.
Failing to make reasonable adjustments for employees with disabilities (including mental health conditions).
Treating a transgender employee unfairly.
Penalising employees for their relationship status.
Discriminating based on ethnicity, nationality, or skin colour.
Excluding someone due to their religious or philosophical beliefs.
Gender-based pay gaps, hiring bias, or promotions favouring one gender.
Discrimination based on who someone is attracted to.
Unfair treatment due to pregnancy or parental leave.
When someone is treated unfairly because of a protected characteristic (e.g. rejecting a candidate based on age).
Treating someone unfairly for making a complaint about discrimination (e.g. excluding them from projects after they raised a concern).
When someone is treated unfairly because of their connection to someone with a protected characteristic (e.g. a parent of a disabled child).
When someone is treated unfairly because they are assumed to have a protected characteristic, even if they don’t.
When a workplace policy applies to everyone but disadvantages a certain group (e.g. requiring all employees to work late, indirectly disadvantaging parents with young children).
Unwanted behaviour that violates dignity or creates a hostile work environment (e.g. offensive jokes, sexual harassment or exclusion).
