In the workplace, Sex Discrimination appears in many forms. The law sets out 2 ways you can be discriminated against because of your sex:
Direct Sex Discrimination: You are treated less favourably because of your sex
Indirect Sex Discrimination: You are put at a particular disadvantage in relation to your sex due to a particular way your employer operates
An example of a way an employer operates is a requirement to work 9am – 5pm. Given women may find working a 9am – 5pm role difficult or impossible (for instance as they normally shoulder the burden of childcare responsibilities) it may be indirectly discriminatory if an employer insists you work 9am – 5pm.
- Do you work for an employer who you feel treats you differently due to your sex?
- Have you recently married and are being treated differently or perhaps have missed a promotion?
- Do you know or suspect you are being paid less than a male co-worker? Perhaps there are a group of you who are paid less than a group of men. This is referred to as “Equal Pay”. We have a separate webpage dealing with “Equal Pay Claims”.
- Have you recently returned from a period of maternity leave and are being treated poorly or even differently? Perhaps you have made a Flexible Working Request of your employer with a view to allow you to care for your new child or children?
- Sex Equality is not just Pay Gaps or “wolf whistles” by co-workers.
- Men can also suffer Sex Discrimination at work so please contact us if your feel you may be discriminated either directly or indirectly.
Top 5 Signs you might be being discriminated against
5 signs you are being discriminated against on the grounds of your sex
- You are not being promoted despite repeatedly hitting your Key Performance Indicators (“KPIs”);
- Your employer is making life difficult for you before or after returning from a period of maternity leave;
- Your employer is making life more difficult for you shortly after getting married;
- You are not receiving a payrise when your employer makes lots of new hires;
- Especially for Equal Pay – Are there a number of different departments in your workplace which appear to have pay differentials and a large sex imbalance. For instance, the checkout operators are mostly female whilst warehouse staff are mostly male.
