Treating differently at work, often referred to as workplace discrimination, occurs when an employee experiences unfair treatment due to certain personal characteristics. This can manifest in various ways, and it's important to recognize when you might be experiencing it.
Types of Unfair Treatment
Unfair treatment can take different forms. Some examples include:
- Unequal opportunities: Not being given the same opportunities for training, promotions, or projects as colleagues.
- Hostile environment: Experiencing offensive jokes, bullying, or harassment due to personal characteristics.
- Different work conditions: Being given less desirable or more burdensome tasks compared to other employees with similar roles.
- Unfair discipline: Being subjected to more severe penalties or being unfairly disciplined compared to others.
- Unequal pay: Being paid less for the same work than colleagues doing the same job.
Legally Protected Characteristics
According to the reference, unfair or different treatment at work could be unlawful if it's based on protected characteristics, such as:
- Disability: Being treated unfairly due to a physical or mental disability.
- Gender: Experiencing discrimination because you are a woman (or a man).
The reference states that if you are treated unfairly or differently because of who you are, such as being disabled or being a woman, it might be against the law. If this is the case, you can complain to your employer or take them to an employment tribunal.
What To Do If You Experience Unfair Treatment
If you believe you are being treated differently or unfairly at work, here are some steps you can take:
- Document everything: Keep a record of all incidents, including dates, times, specific details, and any witnesses.
- Talk to your employer: If you feel comfortable, try to resolve the issue internally by speaking to your manager or HR department.
- Seek legal advice: If the issue is not resolved or if you are not comfortable talking to your employer, consider seeking advice from an employment lawyer or a relevant organization.
- Consider an employment tribunal: If internal attempts to resolve the issue are unsuccessful, you may be able to take your employer to an employment tribunal.
Table: Examples of Treating Differently at Work
Type of Unfair Treatment | Example |
---|---|
Unequal Opportunities | A disabled employee is consistently overlooked for promotions despite having the required skills. |
Hostile Environment | A female employee is subjected to sexist jokes and comments in the workplace. |
Different Work Conditions | A pregnant employee is assigned heavy lifting tasks despite asking for lighter work. |
Unfair Discipline | A minority employee is given a written warning for a minor mistake, while other colleagues receive a verbal warning for the same mistake. |
Unequal Pay | A woman is paid less than a man for performing the same job with the same level of experience and qualifications. |
In summary, "treating differently" at work means being subjected to less favorable treatment because of who you are, and it might be unlawful if it's based on protected characteristics.