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Action to take if you think you're being discriminated against

First, you might want to have an informal discussion with your employer about your needs and why you feel you're being discriminated against. Remind your employer of your rights and their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.

If this discussion does not provide a satisfactory outcome, you could make a complaint about your treatment through your employer's internal grievance procedure.

If you are still not satisfied, you might want to contact Acas (Advisory, Arbitration and Conciliation Service) or make a complaint to the Employment Tribunal.

If you wish to make a complaint to the Employment Tribunal, you must do so within three months of the alleged discrimination.

• Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)

• Employment Tribunals

Getting information from your employer

Getting information from your employer should help you understand why you were treated in a particular way. It should also help you decide whether or not there are reasons to believe that the treatment may have been against the law.

It can also help you identify which facts the employer agrees or disagrees with. For example, the answers may show if you both agree on the basic facts of what happened and whether the Equality Act 2010 applies.

If you decide to take a case to an employment tribunal you can use the information to present your claim in the most effective way.

How to obtain information

Under the Equality Act 2010, you can get information from the person or organisation you think may have discriminated against you. The process involves working through the 'discrimination and other prohibited conduct' forms. There is one form for your questions and another form for your employer’s answers.

The 'discrimination or other prohibited conduct' forms are there to help you ask relevant questions. You do not have to use the forms to obtain information. You may use different forms or a letter to set out your questions, if you prefer. However you must make it clear that you are seeking information about alleged discrimination.

The question form and guidance on how to complete it can be downloaded from the Government Equalities Office website. Links to this information can be found below.

When to use the questions form

You should use the questions form if the possible unlawful conduct in question happened:

• on or after 1 October 2023
• before 1 October 2023 but continued on or after that date

If the possible unlawful conduct took place before 1 October 2010, the Equality Act 2010 will not apply. However, you may ask questions and obtain information under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Follow the 'transitional arrangements' link below for more information about discrimination and related claims arising before and after 1 October.

Where to send your questions form

You should send your questions form to the person or organisation you feel has discriminated against you. Or send the form to your line manager, supervisor or Personnel Manager. If the person or organisation is acting through someone else (eg a solicitor), you should send it to the address of that person.

You should keep a copy of the completed questions form.

The person or organisation can complete the answers form and send it to you. The form gives them the opportunity to say whether they agree with the complaint or not and explain the reasons why.

However, they are not obliged to answer your questions, or use the answers form to do so. If they do not answer within eight weeks of receiving your questions the Employment Tribunal may take this into account if you bring a claim. They may also take into account any evasive or ambiguous answers given.

• Equality Act 2010 - forms for obtaining information Opens new window

• Equality Act 2010 - transitional arrangements (pre 1 October 2023) Opens new window

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas)

Acas aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. It provides up-to-date information, independent advice and training. The service works with employers and employees to solve problems and improve performance.

• Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) Opens new window

Making a complaint to the Employment Tribunal Service

Employment tribunals hear cases involving discrimination in a work context. The Employment Tribunal Service (ETS) can give information about tribunal publications, explain how the tribunal system works and answer general queries about tribunal matters.

For copies of free ETS leaflets or further information call the ETS enquiry line between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Telephone: 08457 959 775
Textphone: 08457 573 722

• Equality Act 2010 - forms for obtaining information Opens new window

• Employment Appeals Tribunal Service - contacts

• Equality and Human Rights Commission - contacts

Useful contacts

• Employment contacts

• Rights and obligations contacts

• Citizens Advice Bureau contacts