What types of workplace discrimination are illegal in the UK?

The Equality Act 2010 sets out four main types of unlawful conduct in the workplace. Direct discrimination occurs when an employer treats someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic — for example, not promoting someone because they are a woman. Indirect discrimination occurs when a neutral policy or practice puts people with a particular protected characteristic at a particular disadvantage compared to others, and there is no objective justification — for example, requiring all staff to work Sundays may, depending on the evidence, place employees of certain religious groups at a particular disadvantage. Harassment is unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment, or violating the person's dignity. This includes sexual harassment. Victimisation occurs when someone is treated unfairly because they made, or are suspected of making, a complaint about discrimination. Discrimination can also occur through association (treating someone less favourably because of another person's protected characteristic, for example a carer's disability) or perception (treating someone less favourably because of a mistaken belief that they have a protected characteristic). Employers can be vicariously liable for discrimination by their employees. If you have been discriminated against, you must start the ACAS conciliation process and bring a claim to the employment tribunal within three months less a day of the act of discrimination.