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Site updated:

12 February 2012

What can I do about being victimised after I complained about being discriminated against at work?

This information applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

If you have complained about discrimination and feel that you are being singled out for treatment that is different from others doing a similar job – in other words, you feel ‘picked on’ because of the complaint, it is victimisation.

The difference is that while discriminatory actions are based, for example, on age, disability, race, religion, sex or sexuality, victimisation is unfair treatment because of other issues. Complaining, insisting on legal rights at work or doing anything that is legal and justified within the law that is followed by unfair treatment can be victimisation. If you have supported a colleague in a discrimination complaint and are treated unfairly, this also amounts to victimisation.

You can use the law to follow up your complaints about victimisation but it is usually best to talk to someone first. Victimisation is often extremely difficult to pinpoint and prove but may be able to be sorted out quickly in an informal way and you can continue to receive pay while negotiations go on.

The next step is to raise a grievance with your employer. You have to do this in writing. If this does not solve your problem, you can make a claim to an employment tribunal. There is a three-month time limit for making a claim to an employment tribunal which runs from the date that the victimisation took place.

For more information about dismissal because of victimisation and employment tribunals, see Dismissal.

For more information about procedures you should follow when you make a complaint about discrimination or victimisation at work, see Sorting out problems at work.

For more information about basic rights at work, see Basic rights at work.

For more information about sex discrimination, see Taking action about sex discrimination.

For more information about disability discrimination, see Disability discrimination.

For more information about race discrimination, see Taking action about race discrimination.

For more information about age discrimination at work, see Age discrimination at work.

 

Other Frequently asked questions about discrimination: