Employers fail to resolve disputes

A study carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) has found that statutory dispute resolution procedures, designed to reduce the number of claims reaching employment tribunals, can actually worsen cases of discrimination on grounds of religion or sexual orientation.

Workers reported that, when they raised complaints with their employers under the procedures, they were typically seen as the problem rather than as the victims of unfair treatment.

“While religion or belief claimants were typically dismissed, sexual orientation claimants tended to [experience] disciplinary action or demotion for work performance until they felt they had no option but to resign,” the IES said.

Many who had subsequently brought tribunal claims said that their main motivation for doing so was simply to get a fair hearing rather than to gain compensation.

The study can be downloaded from www.employment-studies.co.uk/summary/summary.php?id=acas0407