Current legislation protects employees against discrimination on the basis of one or more of nine “protected characteristics”. These are:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender Reassignment
- Marriage and Civil Partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion and belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
If an employee suffers a detriment because of a protected characteristic, then he or she may sue for discrimination. If that happens, then the risks are high.
Discrimination is a highly complex area of law. There is no limit on the compensation that an Employment Tribunal can award. The law on discrimination also changes rapidly.
Our Employment team is experienced at dealing with discrimination issues and claims. The team keep up to date with developments in the law, and best practice.
We can advise you on how to minimise the risk of a claim, including the procedure that should be followed, and recommend changes to your policies and handbooks.
If you do receive a discrimination claim, then we provide practical and commercially sound advice on how to resolve the claim.
