Singled out? Sort it! jargon buster

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Jargon buster

Claim	A case taken to a court.
Direct discrimination	Where someone treats you worse than they treat other people because of who you are.
EHRC Equality and Human Rights Commission	An independent public body giving information and guidance on discrimination and human rights issues. In limited circumstances, they will help people to take discrimination claims to a court or tribunal. It covers England, Wales and Scotland. The equivalent bodies in Northern Ireland are the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
Harassment	Someone saying or doing things because of who you are, that you find offensive, humiliating, frightening or distressing.
Human rights	Basic rights which which are covered by the Human Rights Act.
Indirect discrimination	Where someone has a rule or a way of doing things that they apply to everyone the same, but which puts you, and other people like you, at more of a disadvantage and cannot be justified.
Duty to make reasonable adjustments	Employers and shop and service providers have to take reasonable steps to reduce disadvantage experienced by disabled people applying to/employed by them or using their service.
Tribunal	A type of court dealing with employment law claims. In England, Scotland and Wales it is called an employment tribunal. In Northern Ireland it is an industrial tribunal or fair employment tribunal.
Unfair dismissal	Where an employer sacks an employee but either: does not have a fair reason for doing so or has a fair reason for doing so but handles the situation unfairly.
Victimisation	Where someone treats you less favourably for complaining about being discriminated against or helping someone else to complain about being discriminated against.

The blurb

The law is detailed and complicated. We’ve simplified things in this guide to give you a basic idea of how the law deals with discrimination. But this means we’ve had to miss bits out – bits that are likely to affect what the law would say about your own situation. So please don’t rely on any of the examples used here. Before you take any action, get advice from a CAB, law centre or independent advice agency. If you need help working out who to speak to, go to: Get discrimination advice.

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