Overview

Contents
1. What is discrimination? 2. When does it occur?

If you discriminate against your employee on any of the following grounds, you may be acting unlawfully:

• Sex or marital or civil partner status
• Race or ethnic origin
• Disability
• Trade union membership
• Age
• Religion or belief (England, Wales and Scotland)
• Religious belief or political opinion (Northern Ireland)
• Sexual orientation

Discrimination can occur in an employment context:

• In the way in which a job is advertised
• In the decision regarding whether or not to hire an applicant
• During the period of employment
• In a decision to bring an employment contract to an end

Everybody has the right to equal pay for equal work within the same employment.

The Government has introduced guidelines and regulations for workplace discrimination that deal with disability, sex, race, religion, age, pay and sexual orientation. The rights of the employee and the responsibility of the employer are covered in this section.

See The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service's (ACAS) website (or Labour Relations Agency (LRA) website for Northern Ireland) for more information on equality and discrimination. The link to the relevant section of their website can be found below:

Equality and Diversity from ACAS