Discrimination Project

DISCRIMINATION

What is it and what can you do about it?

As an individual - do you ever think that you’ve been treated unfairly because of your age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation?

As a group, agency or organisation - are you aware of discrimination legislation and its impact on your members, staff and service users?

Over the last 40 years, a large volume of legislation has been introduced which makes it unlawful to treat people unfairly in various aspects of their lives, including how they are treated in employment and the provision of goods, facilities and services. This legislation has now been consolidated and strengthened with the passing of the new Equality Act 2010. Anti-discrimination legislation provides a means to challenge and obtain redress for acts of discrimination.

Download our factsheets about discrimination and equality legislation

THE DISCRIMINATION PROJECT

Who we are and what we do

The Discrimination Project based at Leicester Money Advice and Community Law Service is funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Our aim is to raise awareness of discrimination legislation in the areas of employment and goods, facilities and services and to help individuals who have experienced discrimination to seek redress. Our services are free and are available to individuals and organizations across Leicester, Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire.

Information

We deliver talks and presentations to groups and organisations to promote knowledge and understanding of discrimination legislation as it applies to employment and goods, facilities and services.

To request a talk or presentation, please contact the project on:
enquiries@lma-discriminationproject.org.uk or tel. 0116 2421145

Training

We provide training for advisers who wish to improve their knowledge of equality legislation and their ability to assist people with discrimination queries in matters relating to employment and access to goods, facilities and services.

Download our current training brochure and booking form. We have applied to the Law Society for CPD accreditation for these courses.

Legal Advice, Casework and Representation

We offer legal advice and casework services including representation at court or tribunal for individuals in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, for cases of discrimination in the areas of employment and goods facilities and services.

If you are an advice agency or equalities organization wishing to refer a client to us for legal advice on a discrimination matter, download our referral form.

Elizabeth worked full-time within the beauty industry. Following her announcement that she was pregnant, Elizabeth’s employer substantially reduced Elizabeth’s hours of work and her earnings without consulting her. Elizabeth complained to the Employment Tribunal of Sex Discrimination, in that her hours had been reduced for reasons relating to her pregnancy. The Tribunal held that that there had been unlawful discrimination and awarded Elizabeth the sum of £8,407.31 in compensation and an additional amount of £452.68 because of the employer’s failure to provide Elizabeth with terms and conditions of employment.

Daniel was employed at a call centre. He suffered from depression. He was dismissed for misconduct, as he had made inappropriate comments about his employers on a social networking website. However, Daniel felt that the true reason for dismissal his was related to his sickness absence, which occurred due to his disability. Daniel raised complaints of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal in the Employment Tribunal. The dispute was eventually resolved and the proceedings withdrawn.

Mohammed was a warehouse operative. At times during his employment he was subjected to racial abuse by his colleagues. A redundancy situation arose and Mohammed was one of the employees selected. Mohammed believed that he had been selected on the grounds of his race and that the selection process was therefore unfair. Claims for unfair dismissal and race discrimination were raised in the Tribunal. The proceedings were later withdrawn as the matter was resolved.