Unfair treatment at work can come in a variety of forms and might look different for every individual. If you feel like you’ve been treated unreasonably, you might be unsure on what you can do about it or what the right steps are to deal with it correctly. This article will explore how you should report unfair treatment at work. 

What is Considered Unfair Treatment at Work? 

If an employee is treated differently from others, for reasons unrelated to their job performance, this can be considered unfair treatment. This treatment can come from a manager, peer or subordinate and typically takes place in the following ways: 

  • Discrimination 
  • Victimisation 

Discrimination is illegal due to the Equality Act 2010. This involves any negative behaviours towards any of the protected characteristics which of age, race, sex, gender reassignment, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity. 

Reporting Unfair Treatment at Work 

Your employer’s policy should include a clear procedure to follow if you feel you’re facing unfair treatment at work. This is a generic overview of the steps commonly taken in these situations. 

If possible or appropriate in your circumstance, you might consider talking to the person who has treated you unfairly. However, this will not be a solution in every case and it may not be possible or comfortable to explain why their behaviour is inappropriate.  

Informal Complaint 

Raising the matter informally with a senior member of staff is recommended. If they are part of the problem, find someone else who is a trusted senior member of staff or a HR representative. This can be a casual conversation, somewhere where you feel comfortable discussing the issue at hand. You might bring evidence, such as screenshots or emails, but this will be case dependant. Making notes about possible solutions or anything else discussed in this meeting can also be useful for future reference.  

Formal Complaint 

If you feel like matters do not improve after your informal discussion, the next step is to file a formal complaint. Ensure you clearly state that it is a formal complaint and write down everything in detail to be handed to your manager or HR individual. Next, your employer should conduct a meeting, ideally within a 5-day window.  

Again, consider everything you’d like to cover in this meeting, and make sure you bring all evidence relating to the matter. The outcome should be communicated to you soon after this meeting.  

If you and your employer don’t reach a solution that you’re satisfied with, you can appeal this. If you work for a larger company, at this stage your employer should bring in a senior representative to the appeal meeting.  

Employment Tribunal 

If you’ve taken all the above steps and are still unhappy with how you’ve been treated, the last option you have is to issue a claim at an employment tribunal. Often, these claims will be taken to mediation to attempt to deescalate the situation without the need for a hearing.  

Navigating employment tribunal claims can be stressful and complicated. At Premier Legal, we offer employment tribunal representation that can increase your chance of a successful outcome. Contact us today to find out more.