Protected Characteristics & Discrimination Awareness
Protected Characteristics & Discrimination Awareness
Recognise conduct that can create unfair or hostile treatment.
Staff do not need to make legal findings on shift, but should understand that discrimination, harassment and victimisation can affect colleagues and customers. Decisions should be linked to legitimate safety, security or service reasons.
Protected characteristics+
Equality law protects characteristics including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
Harassment+
Unwanted conduct can create a hostile, humiliating or degrading environment. “Banter” does not automatically make discriminatory conduct acceptable.
Victimisation+
Do not treat somebody badly because they raised, supported or participated in a complaint about discrimination or harassment.
Operational exceptions+
Some roles or procedures may have lawful requirements, but staff should not invent their own exceptions or use policy as a cover for prejudice.
Describe what was said or done rather than simply writing “discrimination occurred”.
Knowledge check
A colleague uses a racist slur toward a customer. What should you do?
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