Discrimination, in legal terms, refers to a wide range of protection provided to workers against discrimination on grounds of sex, race, disability, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation or transgender status. These are referred to as ‘protected characteristics’.

Most of these protections are now found in the Equality Act 2010.

Discrimination can occur in a number of ways, and, in the employment context, a wide variety of employees, workers and freelancers are protected.

Types of discrimination:

Direct Discrimination – where a person with a protected characteristic is treated less favourably than others ‘because of’ that characteristic.

Indirect Discrimination – a practice or way of working in the workplace that puts a person with a protected characteristic at a disadvantage as compared to others.

Discrimination by Association – detrimental treatment because someone a person knows or is associated with has a protected characteristic.

Discrimination by Perception – detrimental treatment because someone believes a person belongs to a group with protected characteristics.

Harassment – unwanted behaviour related to a protected characteristic that makes a person reasonably feel offended, humiliated or intimidated.

Victimisation – when a person is treated badly or subjected to detriment because they raised or supported a complaint of discrimination.