Updating author: Marc Meryon

On this page:
Summary
Future developments
Action point checklist
Key references
Questions and answers
Victimisation overview
Employment Rights Act 1996
Other legislation
Anti-discrimination legislation

Summary

3.1742

• Employees (and, in some instances, workers who are not 'employees') have the legal right not to be victimised, harassed, punished or subjected to any other detriment for exercising (or proposing to exercise) certain of their statutory employment rights. (See 3.1744 Victimisation overview; 3.1745 Employment Rights Act 1996; and 3.1746 Other legislation)
• Workers also have the right not to be victimised on grounds of sex, married or civil partner status, gender reassignment, race, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. (See 3.1747 Anti-discrimination legislation)
• Employees who are dismissed or selected for redundancy, either for questioning or challenging their employer's breach of their rights or for bringing proceedings before an employment tribunal or court, may complain to an employment tribunal and will be awarded substantial compensation if their complaint is upheld. (See 3.1745 Employment Rights Act 1996; 3.1746 Other legislation; and 3.1747 Anti-discrimination legislation)

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Future developments

3.1743 There are no future developments.

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Victimisation overview

3.1744 An employee, or in some cases a worker, will be treated as having been subjected to a detriment (by any act, or any deliberate failure to act, by his or her employer) if demoted, transferred to less suitable or more demanding work, refused a promised pay rise or further opportunities for overtime, not sent on an expected training course, denied an opportunity for promotion, or harassed, criticised or 'sent to Coventry' for exercising or presuming to exercise certain of his or her statutory employment rights; or if victimised on grounds of race, sex, married or civil partner status, gender reassignment, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, or trade union membership or non-membership.