What is direct and indirect discrimination?

Asked by: Hannah Hand  |  Last update: July 24, 2022
Score: 4.5/5 (29 votes)

Direct discrimination happens when someone is treated unfavourably in the workplace because of a protected characteristic. Whereas, indirect discrimination happens when policies and procedures – which apply to everyone – exclude a certain group of people.

What's the difference between direct and indirect discrimination?

While direct discrimination happens when someone treats you unfairly because of who you are, indirect discrimination refers to instances where a seemingly inclusive rule or policy proves to be disadvantageous to certain groups. Both forms are equally harmful and unjust.

What's an example of indirect discrimination?

An example of indirect discrimination, may be a minimum height requirement for a job where height is not relevant to carry out the role. Such a requirement would likely discriminate disproportionately against women (and some minority ethnic groups) as they are generally shorter than men.

What is an example of direct discrimination?

You're heterosexual. An estate agent refuses to let you a flat because he thinks you're gay. This is direct discrimination by perception because of sexual orientation which is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act.

What is an example of indirect discrimination in the workplace?

For example, if you're Jewish and observe the Sabbath, you can't work on Saturdays. It doesn't matter that there aren't any other Jewish people who work in the same shop. It can still be indirect discrimination if something would normally disadvantage people sharing your characteristic.

What is direct and indirect discrimination? | Equality law: discrimination explained

32 related questions found

How does direct discrimination occur in the workplace?

Direct discrimination is when someone is treated unfairly because of a protected characteristic, such as sex or race. For example, someone is not offered a promotion because they're a woman and the job goes to a less qualified man.

What is an example of direct discrimination in schools?

a school refuses to admit a pupil with a facial disfigurement because of concerns that she may upset other pupils - this would be direct discrimination because of disability.

What is indirect discrimination in schools?

Indirect discrimination happens when something applies to everyone in the same way but affects some people unfairly. For example, if everyone had to climb up a flight of stairs to get to an after school club, this would discriminate against children who couldn't do that because of disability.

What is an example of indirect discrimination in health and social care?

Examples of Indirect Discrimination in Health and Social Care may include, but are not limited to: A care provider introduces a new dress code to the workplace. As part of the rules, they decide to prohibit cornrow hairstyles.

What are 3 examples of discrimination?

Types of Discrimination
  • Age Discrimination.
  • Disability Discrimination.
  • Sexual Orientation.
  • Status as a Parent.
  • Religious Discrimination.
  • National Origin.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Sexual Harassment.

What is direct disability discrimination?

Disability discrimination can either be direct or indirect. Direct discrimination is where you are treated less favourably because of your disability than someone without a disability would be treated in the same circumstances.

What are the 4 types of discrimination?

The 4 types of Discrimination
  • Direct discrimination.
  • Indirect discrimination.
  • Harassment.
  • Victimisation.

What is indirect discrimination by law?

Indirect discrimination occurs when there is an unreasonable rule or policy that is the same for everyone but has an unfair effect on people who share a particular attribute.

How does indirect discrimination affect people?

But these PCPs can have a disproportionate impact on certain groups of people. This is indirect discrimination. This can lead to a poor workplace culture, where employees feel uncared for and not respected. Which can cause employees to leave or raise claims of unfair treatment.

Which one of the following best describes the term direct discrimination?

Which of the following best describes the term `direct discrimination'? Where a person is treated more favourably because of e.g. their sex, race or disability.

What is passive discrimination?

Passive discrimination facilitates rather than impedes employee choice and thus might not be viewed as discrimination per se, even if it results in workplace segregation or means that individuals with protected characteristics who fail to self sort are least likely to value the form of compensation and fringe benefits ...

What is discrimination to students?

Discrimination is treating a person badly or unfairly on account of a personal characteristic, such as national, ethnic or social origin, gender, language, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

What is gender discrimination?

Gender discrimination is any unequal treatment, including privilege and priority, on the basis of gender.

What is indirect harassment?

Indirect sexual harassment occurs when a secondary victim has been offended by the verbal or visual sexual misconduct of another.

How do you challenge direct discrimination?

There are three things you can do:
  1. Complain informally to your employer.
  2. Raise a grievance using your employer's grievance procedures.
  3. Make a claim to the Employment Tribunal.

What are the types of discrimination in the workplace?

The EEOC is responsible for protecting you from one type of discrimination - employment discrimination because of your race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older), or genetic information.

How many discrimination types are there?

The Commission defines and prohibits 12 types of discrimination that affect any aspect of employment including: hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, and benefits.

What are the 7 areas of discrimination?

Discrimination
  • age.
  • disability, or.
  • race, including colour, national or ethnic origin or immigrant status.
  • sex, pregnancy, marital or relationship status, family responsibilities or breastfeeding.
  • sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.

What is discrimination and examples?

If someone discriminates in order to satisfy some other person's wishes, it is also discrimination. An example of this is a landlord who refuses to allow a person with a certain disability to rent an apartment because the other tenants do not want to have a neighbour with that disability.

What type of discrimination is disability?

Disability discrimination includes: direct or indirect discrimination. discrimination arising from disability. failure to make reasonable adjustments.