Discrimination legislation covers job applicants and workers. Furthermore, an employer will be liable for any discriminatory act which he/she or any of their employees commits, as long as they are in the course of their employment when committing the discriminatory act.
All employees should be given equal rights. They should be given the same opportunities regardless of age, sex, race, religion or disability. Discrimination in the workplace can either be direct or indirect. Direct discrimination at work occurs when an employee is treated less favourably on the grounds of their age, sex/pregnancy/maternity, race, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion. Indirect discrimination at work occurs when an employer applies a policy or work condition which, by its nature, puts certain groups of people in the workplace at a disadvantage.
The Law ensures that all employees in the workplace are treated equally. However, employees are paid depending on their level of skill and status, and this is not considered to be discrimination.
Discrimination awards are not subject to any maximum figure and can include an award in respect of injured feelings. In addition no eligibility conditions need to be satisfied.
There are strict time limits on employment discrimination cases so the earlier you start your claim, the more effective the process will be for you. You can contact our specialist team, if you believe that you have been discriminated against in the workplace and need specialist advice. We will assess your circumstances and advise whether there has been a potential breach of your rights.
At Chris Alexander Solicitors, our services for discrimination claims include the following:
- Taking your initial instructions, perusing your documents and advising you on the merits and likely compensation
- Negotiation / pre-claim conciliation through ACAS to explore whether a settlement can be reached
- Preparing claim form ET1 and Grounds of Claim setting out your case
- Reviewing and advising on the claim or the response from the other party
- Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
- Preparing or considering a Schedule of Loss
- Preparing for (and attending) Case Management Hearing
- Exchanging List of Documents and copies with the other party
- Taking witness statements and drafting statements
- Preparing the bundle of documents for the Final Hearing
- Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements
- Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including preparing instructions to the barrister
The time frame from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation/negotiation, your case is likely to take 3-6 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 9-12 months.
This time frame is an estimate and may change should any unforeseen complexities arise. We will always inform and provide you with a revised estimate.