YOU MAY HAVE A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATIONDiscrimination ClaimsIf you have suffered discrimination at work, you may be able to claim compensation. Your case will be reviewed by our panel of legal firms who will be able to tell you how much you could be owed. Start claim Home E Employment E DiscriminationOverview of discrimination claimsDiscrimination claims in the UK are legal proceedings initiated by individuals who have been subjected to discrimination in the workplace or in society at large. These claims are based on protected characteristics such as age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or pregnancy.Discrimination is defined as unfavourable treatment based on a person’s protected characteristic, which is not justified by a legitimate reason. Discrimination claims can be brought against individuals, companies or public authorities, and can result in financial compensation, changes to working practices or both.In this section› Discrimination Claims› Claim overview› The criteria needed to qualify› The legal argument for the claim› The evidence you need› A guide to compensation amounts› Claim duration› Common questionsCriteria needed to qualify for discrimination claimsTo qualify for a discrimination claim in the UK, an individual must meet certain criteria. First, they must belong to a protected characteristic group as defined by the Equality Act 2010. This includes age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.Second, they must have experienced unfair or unfavourable treatment because of their protected characteristic. Third, the treatment must not be justified by a legitimate reason. Finally, the individual must have suffered some form of harm or loss, such as emotional distress or financial loss. Contact our team at Claims Bible if you would like more advice on what constitutes discrimination in the UK.Did you know?The chances of you winning your case largely rest on how much evidence you can accumulate. The more emails, recordings and witness statements you have, the better your chances.The legal argument for discrimination claimsThe legal argument for discrimination claims is based on the Equality Act 2010 . This law provides protection against discrimination, harassment and victimisation on the grounds of protected characteristics. It also requires employers and service providers to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. Discrimination claims can be brought in several ways, including:Direct discriminationThis occurs when a person is treated less favourably than another person in the same situation because of a protected characteristic.Indirect discriminationThis occurs when a policy or practice appears to treat everyone equally but actually puts people with a particular protected characteristic at a disadvantage.Key FactsCompensation in discrimination claims is “uncapped”, which means that there is no statutory maximum.HarassmentThis occurs when a person is subjected to unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating their dignity or creating a hostile, n intimidating, degrading, offensive or humiliating environment.VictimisationThis occurs when a person is treated unfairly because they have made a complaint of discrimination or supported someone else in making such a complaint.Evidence needed to support discrimination claimsTo support a discrimination claim, the individual must provide evidence that they have been subjected to unfair treatment because of a protected characteristic. This can include witness statements, emails, recordings and other documentation that show the discriminatory behaviour.The individual must also demonstrate that the behaviour was not justified by a legitimate reason, such as health and safety concerns or business requirements. In cases of disability discrimination, the individual must provide evidence of their disability and the impact it has on their ability to carry out their job or access services.Did you know?You can claim discrimination compensation for financial loss, injury to feelings and personal injury (psychological injuries).How much compensation could you be entitled to?Compensation amounts for discrimination claims will vary depending on the severity and impact of the discrimination. The compensation can include both financial and non-financial damages. Financial damages can include loss of earnings, future loss of earnings and any expenses incurred as a result of the discrimination, while non-financial damages can include injury to feelings, loss of self-esteem and damage to reputation.The amount of compensation awarded for injury to feelings can range from a few hundred pounds to tens of thousands of pounds. However, this will depend on the severity and the impact of the discrimination experienced by the individual. Compensation for loss of earnings can also vary depending on the individual’s salary and how long they were out of work as a result of the discrimination.Key FactsIn 2021, more than a third (36%) of UK adults reported experiencing workplace discrimination.In some cases, the compensation can be significant, especially if the individual has lost their job or suffered a long-term impact on their career prospects.How long do discrimination claims usually take?The length of time it takes to resolve a discrimination claim in the UK depends on several factors, such as the complexity of the case, the number of witnesses involved and the availability of evidence. In general, discrimination claims can take anywhere from a few months to several years to resolve.The claims process for discrimination claimsThe first step in the process is to file a claim with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS). ACAS is an independent organisation that provides free advice and assistance to employees who are considering making a claim. Once a claim has been filed, ACAS will contact the employer to see if they are willing to participate in a process called Early Conciliation.Early Conciliation is a voluntary process where a trained conciliator will try to resolve the dispute between the employer and employee. The conciliator will talk to both parties and try to find a solution that is acceptable to both sides. If a settlement is reached, the case will be closed and no further action will be taken. If no settlement is reached, the employee can proceed with their claim.If the employee decides to proceed with their claim, the case will be heard by an employment tribunal. The employment tribunal is an independent judicial body that hears claims related to employment disputes. The length of time it takes for a discrimination claim to be heard by an employment tribunal can vary depending on several factors. In general, the tribunal will try to schedule a hearing within six months of the claim being filed. However, in complex cases, it may take longer to schedule a hearing.The length of the hearing itself can also vary depending on the complexity of the case. In some cases, the hearing may only last a few hours, while in others, it may last several days or even weeks. After the hearing, the tribunal will usually take several weeks to make a decision. Once a decision has been made, the tribunal will issue a written judgment explaining their decision. In some cases, the tribunal may award compensation to the employee if they find that they have been discriminated against.Common questionsHow long do I have to file a claim?You must file a claim with the Employment Tribunal within three months of the discriminatory act or behaviour occurring. In some circumstances, the time limit may be extended, but this is rare.Can I file a claim if I am no longer employed by the company?Yes, you can file a claim if you have left your job. However, you must still file the claim within the three-month time limit.For more common questions, please refer to the specific claim pages or read our general FAQs page.Choose claimChoose from the different claims below. You can either visit the page to read more about the claim or submit your claim straight away.Sexual Discrimination Claim compensation if you have suffered sexual discrimination in the workplace. Start claimRace Discrimination Claim compensation if you have suffered race discrimination in the workplace. Start claimAge Discrimination Claim compensation if you have suffered age discrimination in the workplace. Start claim