Race Discrimination Claims Lawyers

What Is Race Discrimination in the Workplace?

Race discrimination occurs when an employee or job applicant is treated less favourably or put at a disadvantage because of their race. Under the Equality Act 2010, “race” is a protected characteristic and includes:

• Colour
• Nationality
• Ethnic or national origins

Discrimination can come from a manager, a colleague, a client, or from a company-wide policy. It can be a single incident or a pattern of behaviour over time.

Types of Race Discrimination

The Equality Act 2010 recognises four distinct forms of race discrimination:

1. Direct Discrimination

This happens when someone is treated worse than others in a comparable situation because of their race. For example, being passed over for promotion in favour of a less-qualified colleague of a different ethnicity, or being dismissed following a racial remark.

2. Indirect Discrimination

This occurs when a workplace rule or policy applies to everyone but disproportionately disadvantages people of a particular race and there is no legitimate justification for it. For example, requiring all staff to work a particular shift pattern that conflicts with a cultural or religious observance tied to their ethnic background.

3. Racial Harassment

Harassment means unwanted conduct related to race that violates your dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, or offensive environment. This includes racist jokes, slurs, offensive comments online or in person, or being deliberately excluded because of your background.

4. Victimisation

Victimisation is when you are treated badly because you made a complaint about race discrimination or helped someone else do so. You are legally protected from this regardless of whether the original complaint was upheld.

Who Is Protected in Race Discrimination law?

Race discrimination law in the UK applies to:

• Employees (full-time and part-time)
• Workers and agency workers
• Job applicants
• Trainees and apprentices
• Contract workers
• Company directors
• Partners in a firm
• The self-employed (in certain circumstances)

Discrimination can occur at any stage of the employment relationship, from the job advertisement and interview, through to promotion, training, pay decisions, and dismissal.

What Can You Claim Compensation For?

If your claim succeeds at an Employment Tribunal, you may be awarded compensation for:

• Loss of earnings (past and future)
• Loss of pension and other benefits
• Injury to feelings (the Vento bands, currently ranging from approximately £1,200 to over £56,000 depending on severity)
• Personal injury if the discrimination caused psychiatric harm
• Aggravated damages in serious cases

Unlike unfair dismissal, there is no statutory cap on the compensation that can be awarded for discrimination claims, which means awards can be substantial.

When to Act for Claim?

Important: You generally have 3 months less 1 day from the date of the discriminatory act to submit a claim to the Employment Tribunal. Before doing so, you are required to notify ACAS under the Early Conciliation scheme.

Missing this deadline can mean losing your right to claim entirely, so it is critical to seek legal advice as soon as possible.

How the Claims Process Works

Step 1: We gather evidence and review your employment history and correspondence.

Step 2: We notify ACAS and explore early conciliation to resolve matters without a tribunal where possible.

Step 3: If conciliation fails, we prepare and submit your claim to the Employment Tribunal.

Step 4: We represent you at the hearing and fight for the best possible outcome.

Contact Kalra Law Group

KLG Law can assist you with your discrimination claim today.

• No Win No Fee
• Experienced Race discrimination Solicitors
• Legal advice from employment law specialists

Call No Win No Fee Race Discrimination Lawyers in London, Reading, Slough, Watford, Maidenhead & Henley, KLG Law today on 0330 221 0684 or contact us.