One in five experience discrimination at work

A fifth of employees experience discrimination at work or when applying for jobs, according to research from the Resolution Foundation, which has called for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to be given more powers to enforce anti-discrimination laws in the workplace.

The think tank’s survey of more than 3,000 working age adults found that 20% reported discrimination at work, with BAME (21%) and disabled workers (15%) most affected.

Age and sex discrimination are most commonly reported in absolute terms, it said, while low-paid workers are more likely to be anxious about discrimination than their higher-paid peers, yet less likely to take a case to an employment tribunal.

Examples of discrimination cited in the Foundation’s Policing Prejudice report ranged from being turned down for a job (13%) to being denied a promotion (8%) or training (7%).

The EHRC’s budget has been cut by four-fifths in real terms since 2008/09, the think tank notes, severely limiting its ability to enforce the law.

“The government should pass legislation to give the EHRC stronger powers, such as financial penalties when it finds non-compliance, and the ability to proactively inspect businesses where it suspects discrimination,” said the report’s author, Hannah Slaughter.