Bullying, discrimination & harassment

Bullying at work is any unwanted behaviour that makes you feel uncomfortable, humiliated, or intimidated. It doesn’t matter if it’s a one-off incident or something that’s been going on for months—bullying is unacceptable.

Workplace bullying can be devastating, leaving you feeling trapped and powerless and it can happen in various ways including:

• face-to-face
• in emails
• through messages
• or over the phone

But you don’t have to endure this. If you’re experiencing bullying at work, the first step is to raise the issue with your manager or HR department. Many workplaces have policies in place to handle bullying, and often, internal discussions can resolve the issue.

However, if things don’t improve—or if your concerns are brushed aside—you may need to take formal action. This can involve submitting a formal grievance or, in more severe cases, exploring legal options.

The Equality Act 2010 protects you from discrimination in the workplace from day one. Whether you’re interviewing for a job, starting your induction, or years into your role, your employer has a legal responsibility to ensure that you are treated fairly.

Discrimination happens when you’re treated unfavourably because of a protected characteristic, such as:

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Race or ethnicity
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Religion or belief
• Marriage and civil partnership

It’s the duty of your employer to prevent discrimination and to act swiftly if it occurs. If they fail to protect you, they could be held accountable, and you have the right to seek justice.

If you’re facing discrimination, you might start by raising an internal grievance. But if your employer doesn’t address the issue, or if you feel that the situation hasn’t been resolved, you may have grounds to bring a claim before an Employment Tribunal.

At Anthony Gold Solicitors, we understand how stressful it can be to confront workplace discrimination. That’s why we offer compassionate, expert guidance to ensure you’re fully informed about your rights and the steps you can take. Our team will stand by you to ensure you get the justice and compensation you deserve.

Harassment is a form of discrimination that occurs when you’re subjected to unwanted behaviour related to a protected characteristic—such as your race, gender, age, or disability—that creates an intimidating, hostile, or degrading environment at work. This kind of behaviour violates your dignity and has no place in a professional setting.

Under the Equality Act 2010, you’re protected from harassment at work that relates to any of the protected characteristics. Additionally, the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 offers further legal protection, even if the harassment isn’t directly linked to one of those characteristics.

Harassment doesn’t just affect your work performance; it impacts your mental well-being and sense of security in the workplace. Employers have a legal duty to ensure that their workplace is free from harassment by implementing and enforcing clear policies to prevent and address such behaviour. If your employer fails to take reasonable steps to protect you, they could be held responsible.

In severe cases, where harassment has made your working conditions unbearable, you might have grounds for a constructive unfair dismissal claim. This occurs when you’re forced to resign because your employer has failed to handle the situation appropriately.

However, constructive unfair dismissal claims are serious. It’s not simply about leaving a job because you’re unhappy; it’s about proving that your employer’s breach of duty left you with no other choice but to resign. Examples include:

• Severe harassment that your employer has refused to tackle
• Bullying from colleagues or management, or ongoing discrimination that’s made your position untenable.

Remember, once you resign, there’s no turning back.