Discrimination and Equality Solicitors

If you are being discriminated against at work, there are laws in place to protect you. Discrimination in the workplace is a challenging area of employment law and you may need legal advice and support in order to protect your best interests.

Our solicitors are here to help you if you are thinking of bringing a discrimination compensation claim against your employer.

Discrimination at Work

Discrimination at work is a sensitive and complex area of employment law and suffering from it can be extremely upsetting and stressful. Our specialist solicitors have years of experience in handling discrimination cases and will aim to ease these burdens for you.

Our team has been involved in leading discrimination cases and has recovered significant sums of compensation on behalf of clients. We take the time to understand the details of your case so we can properly advise you on the options available, whether that be mediation, submitting a grievance, or pursuing a claim in an employment tribunal.

We have a proven track record of effectively advising and representing clients throughout the process, trusted by some of the largest trade unions in the country, which is why you can rely on us to provide you with accurate and clear advice.

For more information on how we can support you, please contact a member of our team today.

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Our Discrimination in the Workplace Services

Disability Discrimination Solicitors

Sexual Orientation Discrimination Solicitors

Sex Discrimination Solicitors

Religion and Belief Discrimination Solicitors

Race Discrimination Solicitors

Maternity and Pregnancy Discrimination Solicitors

Marriage & Civil Partnership Discrimination Solicitors

Gender Reassignment Discrimination Solicitors

Age Discrimination Solicitors

Victimisation at Work

Detriment at Work

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What are the “protected characteristics”?

The following are protected characteristics i.e. the protection from discrimination is associated with them:

age
disability
gender reassignment
marriage or civil partnership (in employment only)
pregnancy and maternity
race
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation

Discrimination and equality lawyers Leeds and Yorkshire

Am I being discriminated against at work?

You might feel unfairly treated but how do you know if it’s because of a “protected characteristic”? Sometimes, for example in cases of harassment, comments or jokes are made that are clearly related to a protected characteristic, cause offence and are completely unacceptable in the workplace. However, the link with a protected characteristic may not be so obvious when other unfavourable treatment occurs, such as selection for redundancy, a failure to promote or a failure to adjust the workplace to accommodate a disability.

Types of Employment Discrimination

Direct Discrimination

This occurs when an employer, because of a protected characteristic, treats a worker less favourably than he treats, or would treat, a person who does not have that characteristic. It is therefore necessary to identify a comparator who hasn’t been treated in the same way and who doesn’t have the same characteristic. This type of discrimination cannot be justified under any circumstances.

Indirect Discrimination

This arises when an employer applies a “provision, criterion or practice” (such as a policy) which is not intended to treat anyone less favourably, but which in practice has the effect of disadvantaging people who have a particular protected characteristic.

Employers can only defend indirect discrimination if they can show that they can objectively justify the treatment.

Harassment

A person harasses another if they engage in unwanted conduct related to one or more protected characteristics with the purpose or effect of violating their dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.

Examples include comments made about protected characteristics, which offend you or make you feel humiliated.

Victimisation

Victimisation occurs when an employee is subjected to a detriment because they have carried out a protected act. A protected act is the act of making a claim or complaint of discrimination, or helping someone else to make a claim by giving evidence or information, or making an allegation that someone else has breached the EqA.

Instructing, causing, inducing or knowingly helping unlawful acts

It is unlawful to instruct, cause, induce, or knowingly help another person to discriminate, harass, or victimise another person.

Failure to make reasonable adjustments

The EqA requires employers to make “reasonable adjustments” to help disabled employees and job applicants where appropriate. This duty can arise where a disabled person is put at a substantial disadvantage by a PCP of the employer or a physical feature of the employer’s premises.

Unfavourable treatment “arising from” disability

A person discriminates against a disabled person if they treat them unfavourably because of something arising in consequence of the disability and cannot show that the treatment is justified.

This might apply where an employer treats a disabled person unfavourably in connection with sickness absences connected to their disability.

Why Morrish Solicitors?

Our Employment Rights team has a longstanding reputation for helping clients with a variety of employment law claims, including discrimination.

We understand that your circumstances are unique, and that’s why we’re careful to listen to your situation and provide the best possible solutions to support you.

Personal service

As a Yorkshire-based firm, you can benefit from our competitive rates. We believe in representing people, not large organisations, which is why we aim to provide expert advice, personable service, and excellent value for money.

Expert advice, no matter where you live

All our services can be provided at your convenience either in-person, over the phone or by email or post. So, it doesn’t matter where you live, we’ll always be here to support you.

Want more information? Contact a member of our team today.

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Why our clients choose Morrish Solicitors

“Daniel who dealt with us was professional understanding and patient, he kept us up to date with progress of our settlement.”

Employee Client, September 2019.

The service we received was exceptional, we were kept in formed at every step. The whole experience was dealt with in a very professional manner.

Employment Rights Client, January 2022.

Daniel Kindell

Partner & Head of Employment

David Sorensen

Managing Partner

Paul Scholey

Employment Consultant

Tony Rippon

Associate Solicitor, Employment

Haylee Chambers

Associate Solicitor, Employment

Hanan Hewitson

Employment Solicitor

Omar Ghaffoor

Employment Solicitor

Erin Garnham

Employment Solicitor

Christina Moore

Trade Union Helpdesk Advisor

Ranjit O’Mahony

Senior Solicitor, Employment

Kate Forrest

Employment Solicitor

Nicholas McMahon

Legal Assistant

Megan Knight

Graduate Solicitor Apprentice

Lawrence Ofori

Employment Solicitor

Damian Kelly

Head of Professional Conduct & Regulatory, Employment Solicitor

Leeds

Bradford

Yeadon

Pudsey

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