Racial discrimination

Your employer should give everyone the same opportunities at work regardless of their race. Unfortunately, sometimes this doesn’t always happen. Racial discrimination is unacceptable in any workplace. The Equality Act 2010 states that you cannot be discriminated against for a protected characteristic.

What legal help can I get with discrimination at work?

Our racial discrimination solicitors can advise and support you if you were treated unfairly, harassed or victimised at work because of your race.

If anyone is discriminating against you, you could make a claim for racial discrimination compensation. Our lawyers are experts at helping people make successful claims. We can also help you reach a settlement agreement with your employer and get the compensation you deserve without going through court or tribunal hearings.

The Equality Act 2010 states that you cannot be discriminated against for a protected characteristic. Race is classified as a protected characteristic and includes:

Colour
Nationality
Ethnic or national origin.

If you think you have been discriminated against, we can help you build a case, claim compensation, and negotiate a severance package with your employer if you feel unable to continue working for them.

Race discrimination can lead to many distressing outcomes for you. Some have serious legal implications for your employer. In the eyes of the law, discrimination can take the form of:

Demotion – if your employer suddenly demotes you without a reason
Constructive dismissal – if you felt you had no choice but to leave your job
Unfair dismissal – if your employer dismissed you without a fair reason and didn’t follow the correct procedure
Recruitment discrimination – if you suspect your application has been rejected or you’re not selected for the job based on your race
Redundancy – if you were selected for redundancy based on your race alone and your employer didn’t follow the correct process
Withheld opportunities for promotion – if you were overlooked for a promotion or not given the chance to apply for one because of your race
Bullying and harassment – when a person or group of people at work makes you feel humiliated, offended, intimidated, or degraded because of your race
Victimisation – often happens if you’re treated badly for making a complaint or claim, or have supported someone else experiencing race discrimination.

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We have the largest private client team in the UK, our team of experts are here to provide discreet legal advice to support you and your family.

Shah Qureshi

Partner

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Meet our experts

Shah Qureshi

Partner

Find out more

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make a discrimination claim?

You have three months minus one day from the last act of discrimination to start the ACAS early conciliation process (you will need to do this before progressing to a tribunal). The ACAS process can take a month with two extra weeks if needed.

You will get an ACAS certificate allowing you to issue a claim in the Employment Tribunal. Your employer will get a copy and they’ll have 30 days to send their defence. The Tribunal will then set a date for a full hearing in six to nine months.

What are the possible outcomes of making a discrimination claim?

If your claim goes to the Employment Tribunal or to court, possible outcomes are:

Compensation
Declaration of your rights
Formal recommendation to your employer to prevent it happening again.

If we settle your claim through negotiation, we may be able to get a reference and an apology for you, as well as a confidentiality agreement and terms that protect your reputation. This can be much less stressful than going to court – and you may receive a more favourable compensation settlement.

What is the process for making a discrimination claim?

Your first step should usually be to raise your concerns directly with your employer and give them the chance to resolve the issue internally. If this doesn’t lead to a conclusion that you’re happy with, you can start the formal grievance process. If the formal process still doesn’t satisfy you, it’s time to consider going to the Employment Tribunal.

The first step towards this is to start the ACAS early conciliation process. ACAS helps you and your employer to try and settle the dispute out of court. This process can take a month and can be extended by two extra weeks if you and your employer agree.

When the ACAS early conciliation process ends, you’ll be given an ACAS certificate. If your dispute is still unresolved at this point you can issue a claim in the Employment Tribunal. Your employer will get a copy of your claim and they have 30 days to send their defence.

The Tribunal will then set a date for a full hearing in six to nine months. We’ll work with you to prepare your case during this period. Going through the full Employment Tribunal process may feel long and stressful. We’ve been through it many times before so will support and guide you through each step.

Time limits

It’s important to contact us as soon as possible. You have three months minus one day to from the last act of discrimination to start the ACAS early conciliation process. These time limits can come up very quickly, so you need to move fast.

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