Outside the Law
- Police and Crime
- Discrimination and Equal Opportunities
- Age and the Law
Discrimination and Equal Opportunities
Discrimination means that you are being treated unfairly due to someone else’s prejudices. You have rights not to be discriminated against under the law:
The Sex Discrimination Act makes it unlawful for you to be treated less well than someone of a different sex.
The Race Relations Act makes it unlawful for you to be treated less well because of your colour, race, nationality, citizenship, ethnicity or national origin.
The Disability Discrimination Act makes it unlawful for you to be treated less well than others (without good reason) because of disability.
The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 make it unlawful for you to be discriminated against, victimised or harassed at work because of your sexual orientation.
Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 make it unlawful for you to be discriminated against, victimised or harassed at work because of your religion or beliefs.
Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 make it unlawful for you to be discriminated against, victimised or harassed at work because of your age. This means an employer must make decisions about whether or not you are suitable for a job based on whether you have the skills to do it and not based on your age.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission exists to tackle discrimination and promote equality:
How To Make A Complaint
If you feel you have been discriminated against you have a right to make an official complaint. Your Connexions personal adviser will be able to advise you on where to go and get help with making a complaint.
If you are making a complaint, act quickly because there are time limits. If you wish to make a complaint against an employer, there is normally a time limit of three months from the date of the incident. So contact one of these local organisations to get help as soon as you can:
Charnwood Racial Equality Council - 01509 261651/ 652
Leicester Racial Equality Council - 0116 299 9800
Last Updated: 10-Dec-2007
