Discrimination Protection
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on UK Acts of Parliament, statutory instruments, and official guidance.
What is this right?
The Equality Act 2010 protects you from discrimination at work based on 9 protected characteristics:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race (including ethnicity, colour, nationality)
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Protection covers direct discrimination (being treated worse because of a characteristic), indirect discrimination (a rule that disadvantages people with a characteristic), harassment, and victimisation (punishment for making a complaint).
When does it apply?
- Applies to employees, workers, job applicants, and contract workers.
- Covers the entire employment relationship — recruitment, pay, promotion, training, and dismissal.
- There is no minimum service period — you are protected from day one (and even before you start, during recruitment).
- If you have a disability, your employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments — changing procedures, equipment, or the workplace to remove disadvantages.
What should you do?
- Keep detailed records — dates, what was said, who was present, and any emails or messages.
- Use your employer's grievance procedure first — put your complaint in writing.
- Contact ACAS (0300 123 1100) for free advice before going to tribunal.
- You must start ACAS Early Conciliation within 3 months minus 1 day of the discriminatory act.
- Compensation for discrimination has no cap and can include injury to feelings (Vento bands: £1,100 to £56,200+).
What should you NOT do?
- Don't stay silent — discrimination rarely gets better on its own, and delay can weaken your case.
- Don't resign without advice — you may have a constructive dismissal claim alongside discrimination.
- Don't assume "banter" is acceptable — repeated offensive comments about a protected characteristic can be harassment, even if others laugh along.
How Northern Ireland differs from UK national law
Northern Ireland has separate but largely parallel anti-discrimination law:
- The Equality Act 2010 does not apply in Northern Ireland. Instead, protection comes from multiple statutes: Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998, Sex Discrimination (NI) Order 1976, Race Relations (NI) Order 1997, Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and others.
- Northern Ireland has additional protection for religious belief and political opinion in employment — reflecting its unique history.
- The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland enforces equality law (not the EHRC).
- Employers with 10+ employees must register with the Equality Commission and monitor the religious composition of their workforce.
Additional Steps in Northern Ireland
- Contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland at 028 9050 0600 or equalityni.org.
Relevant Law: Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998; various NI equality orders
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