Workplace Discrimination
The Equality Act 2010 identifies nine "protected characteristics”. This means that if you’ve faced workplace discrimination based on one of these, our specialist employment law solicitors can help you raise a complaint and bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal to seek the compensation you deserve. The nine “protected characteristics” are:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Discrimination in the workplace can occur at any time during employment, from recruitment to termination, when decisions are made regarding promotions or pay structures.
Our specialist employment solicitors have extensive experience in dealing with all types of discrimination issues, including issues that arise during disciplinary proceedings or grievances.
We also represent individuals with Employment Tribunal claims for all forms of discrimination in the workplace, such as racial discrimination and disability discrimination.
We often act for individuals who have discrimination concerns but remain in employment and do not want the stress and uncertainty of resigning without an alternative job.
Therefore, we are extremely experienced in negotiating lucrative exit packages to facilitate employees and senior executives leaving their employment.
The Services We Offer
Our specialist employment solicitors provide clear, straightforward legal support if you've experienced discrimination at work. We'll protect your rights, fight for fair outcomes, and support you every step of the way. These are some of the ways we can help you:
Legal Advice:
We offer guidance on all types of workplace discrimination covered by the Equality Act 2010, including advising on the legal position and the options that may be available.
Employment Tribunal Claims:
Our experienced employment law solicitors are able to represent you confidently at Employment Tribunals, helping you to progress your claim and secure compensation.
High-value settlements:
We have extensive experience negotiating both generous and fair exit settlements for employees and senior executives, ensuring you leave your role without harming your finances or reputation.
Top-tier Advice:
Our employment solicitors are nationally recognised experts, providing City-standard legal services with a personal, accessible approach that puts your needs first.
Why Work with Our Discrimination Solicitors?
Our specialist team of employment solicitors is described in the independent Legal 500 directory as “excellent” and are highly recommended in the Legal 500. Therefore, you can be reassured that you will deal with some of the best employment solicitors in the country.
We can be strident and robust on your behalf, where appropriate, including when representing our senior executive clients with the largest employers or professional organisations. However, we are also easy to work with and clear in our advice.
We will fight your corner, and we always take into account the sensitivity of a situation and your professional and personal circumstances.
In particular, our employment lawyers offer:
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City centre standards of employment law advice and service levels due to our policy of recruiting only the best specialist employment solicitors from leading firms.
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Clear and straightforward UK employment law advice that is user-friendly, pragmatic and commercial.
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Extensive experience in advising various employees, including senior executives, directors and partners with complex employment concerns.
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A credible team of employment law solicitors that are used to dealing with and providing representation against large employers and law firms on behalf of our clients.
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A partner-led service and a genuinely accessible team of experienced employment law solicitors due to our size, structure and unique culture.
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Cost-effective support tailored to your unique employment issues and certainty on costs where you need it.
Frequently Asked Discrimination Questions
I‘ve suffered discrimination in the workplace – what redress can I seek?
If you have been subjected to unlawful discrimination, you may be able to bring a claim against your employer in the Employment Tribunal.
If you are successful, the outcomes could be:
- Compensation – there is no cap on the level of compensation that can be awarded. Compensation is awarded for any financial loss suffered as a result of the discriminatory action as well as for “injury to feelings”.
- A declaration of your rights.
- A recommendation to your employer to stop the discrimination happening again.
We are extremely experienced in assisting and representing individuals with discrimination claims. Please click here for details of our cost for this service.
I’ve not been working for my employer for very long, can I still pursue a claim for discrimination?
Yes, unlike some other claims, there is no qualifying period of employment required to bring a discrimination claim. There are, however, very short limitation periods to bring such claims in the Employment Tribunal and so it’s important to obtain advice as soon as possible to ensure you know your legal position and the options that may be available to you.
What counts as harassment at work?
Harassment is a type of discrimination. It is unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating your dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
A protected characteristic includes age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and/or sexual orientation.
What should I do if I think I have been discriminated against?
If you have been discriminated against because of your protected characteristic it is important to:-
1. Keep a record of the incident(s) which can include writing down dates, details of the incident(s) and people involved;
2. Raise the complaint internally either informally or by submitting a formal grievance to your employer; and
3. Seek support from an employment solicitor early as you will have 3 months minus 1 day from the act of discrimination to take legal action against your employer.
I am disabled. What should my employer be doing?
Under the Equality Act 2010, you are considered disabled if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term (lasting or likely to last 12 months or more) negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities.
Your employer must not treat you less favourably or put you at a disadvantage because of your disability or something arising from your disability. Your employer should make reasonable adjustments to remove any barriers or disadvantages at work for you.
Do I need to disclose my disability?
No but your employer will not be expected to make reasonable adjustments for you unless they know or should reasonably know about your disability.
Will I be protected if I raise a complaint of discrimination?
Yes. The law protects you from Victimisation. This is where you have been treated badly for raising or supporting a discrimination or harassment complaint.
Testimonials
Mr Tolmac
First and foremost, your team’s courteous, understanding, and professional approach stands out. The way they clearly and thoroughly explained everything I needed to know reflects a genuine passion for what they do. When people truly enjoy their work, delivering the best possible results becomes second nature; and that is something everyone deserves.
Mr. Deradour
Jack has been so good with me; very supportive and personal.
Mr. Hughes Gareth
Amy was professional, informative, working for me and advised me of her ideas and suggestions. It felt collaborative. She's an asset to you.
Mr. Mayers
Made it very easy. Great communication. I felt very confident every step of the way.
Mr. Heald
The service was excellent. Vicki was not only very professional, but timely in her responses and understanding of key timelines. I would definitely use Myerson again.
Mr. A
Anjali Brown made was amazing to work with. She was very professional and knowledgeable. She explained everything. Made me feel comfortable and at ease with everything that was going on. I was very happy with the outcome and felt that Anjali had worked hard on my behalf and had respected my wishes.
Alannah
Vicki Fagan recently helped me with an employment matter and she was fantastic from start to finish, she gave clear, honest advice, and was always on hand to quickly answer any questions I had. She was friendly and professional at all times and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.
Mr. Holt
Fantastic service - friendly, fast, and they inform you exactly what your options are.
Natalie Chapman
Charlotte was extremely helpful, supportive, and proactive with my case. Communication was excellent, and I felt I was in professional and safe hands. Thank you
Mrs. Witts
Jack Latham was very informative, supportive and took his time to go through the settlement agreement process I had with my employer.
Mrs. Cottrell
Great service with quick turnaround and pragmatic approach to advising me. Thorough legal review. Joanne Henderson was very easy to work with.
Mr S
1st Class experience. Great advice, very responsive and understanding. Helpful and knowledgeable and helped to achieve a great outcome. I Would highly recommend.
Mr Pearse
Jack Latham was quick to assess the situation and handled my case professionally and efficiently.
Susan
Efficient service. I had the pleasure of working with Vicki, who was extremely efficient and helpful. She communicated well and was very clear in outlining her actions and following these through promptly. She raised points which proved really useful and I valued her insight. I found her very professional.
Martyn
Professional service provided for a personal legal matter. I would highly recommend this firm. The Solicitor assigned to me was personable and highly knowledgeable, ensuring that my matter was dealt with due care and attention.
Laura
Jack Latham was incredible. Amazing solicitor who was first class in delivering advice.
Ed
Myerson Solicitors were recommended to me. Even on my initial contact I was immediately at ease by the manner in which my cold call was answered and dealt with. A great company to deal with at all levels from reception right up to senior partners. Would definitely recommend to others.
Jeff Abbott
Myersons were recommended to me and they didn’t disappoint. The issue I engaged them for was time sensitive and they managed to get everything squared away very quickly but without compromising the quality of the work or my understanding of the process. Excellent service all round and I would happily recommend them to friends and family.
Legal 500, 2019
The 'commercially savvy' Joanne Evans leads Myerson Solicitor's employment department.
Legal 500, 2020
A very personal and professional team that we treat as an extension of our team. They always are responsive to our needs which can be at short notice given how our business is run which is brilliant for us and we value this service so much.
Legal 500, 2020
They are a really good alternative to the bigger city firms. They have the skills without some of the frills and formality.
Legal 500, 2020
Myerson Solicitors are at the very top of their field. They are extremely knowledgeable, personable, reliable and provide outstanding personal service. Each issue they have dealt with has been carried out extremely thoroughly – sometimes being given very short notice.
Miss N.Kay
Dealing with stress and leaving a company can be very emotive, but having Myerson and being represented by Charlotte was invaluable to me. She explained everything in detail, in a way I could understand, making my exit from work less stressful. Charlotte's legal acumen and knowledge of employment law was fantastic and she liaised directly with my company and removed the stress from dealing with any legalities. I have no hesitation in recommending Myerson- the service outstanding.
Mary
The solicitor appointed successfully negotiated an improved package in a timely manner. Without Myerson Solicitors' assistance, I would have left the organisation with minimal financial compensation and not on good terms. The solicitor's professional intervention not only facilitated a reasonable settlement but provided a 'calming' influence at a most stressful time.
Gary Haynes
Joanne Henderson represented me and over 40 of my former colleagues in a long, complex and highly charged TUPE group action. Joanne is extremely knowledgeable in her field, with a real ability to focus on the specific legal issues at hand, weed out all the irrelevance and make a strong and clear case. I would heartily and without hesitation recommend Joanne to anyone with an employment law issues.
Our Expertise in Discrimination Cases
Our specialist employment solicitors possess extensive experience handling a wide array of discrimination issues, including the below.
Case Study 1: Tribunal claim for discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, nationality, disability and victimisation
Representing a former senior in-house counsel for a multi-national manufacturing and logistics business. On our client’s behalf we issued proceedings in the Employment Tribunal against multiple group companies and multiple individual Respondents. Our client’s claims were complex involving issues of discrimination on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, nationality and disability. The case also involved allegations of bullying, whistleblowing and victimisation. The proceedings were robustly defended. We secured agreeable settlement terms for our client of a six figure sum plus legal costs.
Case Study 2: Demotion influenced by race and successful settlement
Acting for a Chief Executive in a global engineering business who was asked to step down from his role to a less senior role. We advised on all options available and the best way to manage the situation to secure the best possible exit terms. We drafted a grievance on his behalf detailing his contribution to the business and the reasons why the proposed demotion must have been influenced by his race. We subsequently negotiated with the employer and their lawyers to secure his continued employment for nine months while he secured alternative employment, together with a six figure settlement payment and generous arrangements in relation to his bonus and share options.
Case Study 3: Successful Tribunal claim for failure to make reasonable adjustments
Successfully representing a visually impaired employee in relation to her claims for failure to make reasonable adjustments by her former employer. The employee had attended Access to Work, who had identified auxiliary aids to assist with her role and the employer failed to implement the same. At a final hearing, the Tribunal found that that the employer had failed in its duty to provide such reasonable adjustments and listed the matter for a remedy hearing. Prior to the remedy hearing, we assisted our client in negotiating a favourable settlement.
Case Study 4: Tribunal claim for equal pay, sex discrimination, harassment and victimisation
Representing a Finance Director of a scientific research company in relation to complex equal pay and discrimination claims, including various instances of direct and indirect sex discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Part way through the Tribunal proceedings, we further advised the client on her resignation and subsequently added a constructive dismissal claim to the proceedings. We conducted the litigation including drafting particulars of claim, witness statements and an extensive equal value statement and attended both voluntary judicial mediation and mandatory alternative dispute resolution on behalf of our client. We successfully negotiated a lucrative settlement prior to the lengthy final hearing.
Case Study 5: Grievance in relation to sex discrimination and harassment and successful exit negotiations
Acting for a Director in a national property business who faced derogatory comments and exclusion from work opportunities from male colleagues. We lodged a grievance explaining her extensive concerns about how she had been treated less favourably than male colleagues and highlighting the low number of senior female employees in the business. We also submitted a data subject access request on her behalf, requesting data relating to her career progression and the work opportunities she had been excluding from. We advised the employee on how best to manage her sickness absence during this time whilst negotiating with her employer and their lawyers. We negotiated an extremely generous exit package, as she did not want to return to work, which gave her compensation equivalent to almost two years’ pay, bonus and benefits whilst also protecting her reputation and ability to seek new employment.
Meet Our Employment Solicitors
Home-grown or recruited from national, regional or City firms. Our employment lawyers are experts in their fields and respected by their peers.
Charlotte Gilbert
Charlotte is the Head of Myerson HR and a Partner in our Employment Team
Contact Our Experts
You can contact our lawyers below if you have any more questions or want more information:
0161 941 4000
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