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Your rights at work

It always helps to know exactly what your rights at work are, even if you are just having an informal chat with your boss. And of course the worst can happen. Then you need to know your legal rights in a hurry, or know where to go to take further advice.

On this website, we have brief guides to:

Discrimination and harassment at work

You have a right to be treated fairly at work. If you feel that you are being discriminated against, harassed or bullied at work, because of your gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, age, religion, or for any other reason, help is available from the organisations listed below. You can call the TUC's 'Know your rights' helpline on 0870 600 4 882 (Monday to Friday 8am - 9pm)

In addition, you may feel that being matched with a mentor would help. You could speak to them in confidence and work through a plan of action. MentorSET match individual women working in science, engineering or technology (SET) to mentors who work in a similar sector.

Additional help available

ACAS

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) offers free, confidential and impartial advice on all employment rights issues, to both employees and employers. The ACAS helpline - 08457 47 47 47 is open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday. They also have a section on all aspects of equality at work on their website and produce a leaflet about bullying at work.

Alliance Against Pregnancy Discrimination in the workplace

Each year 30,000 women lose their jobs as a result of unlawful pregnancy discrimination and the recession is making things worse. Here are some links for information and advice:

Maternity Action

Working Families

Citizen's Advice Bureau

The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) provides free, confidential and impartial advice about your rights, including your rights at work. You can arrange to see a local representative or look on their website for their advice guides about discrimination. There are separate sections on the CAB's advice guide for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Dignity at Work

Dignity at Work is the world's largest anti-bullying project, headed by Unite the Union. There are downloadable resources, advice and support and top tips for beating bullies.

Direct Gov

Direct Gov is a government website which offers access to public services all in one place. It has interactive guidance on your employment rights and a range of downloadable fact sheets on work and families. The website also has a section on what to do if you are being discriminated against or being bullied at work.

Stonewall

Stonewall, the lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, has a section on their website about discrimination and harassment at work. If you feel that you have been discriminated against or bullied at work because of your actual or perceived sexual orientation, this is a good place to start.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) opened on 1 October 2007. It replaced three former equality commissions: Disability Rights Commission, Commission for Racial Equality and Equal Opportunities Commission. A key aim of the EHRC is to end discrimination and harassment of people because of their disability, age, religion or belief, race, gender, or sexual orientation.

The EHRC provides information on your rights and what do do if you are experiencing discrimination on their website. They also have helplines around the UK if you need to speak to someone. The telephone numbers are:

  • 0845 604 6610 - England
  • 0845 604 8810 - Wales
  • 0845 604 5510 - Scotland

TUC

The TUC (Trades Union Congress) campaigns against discrimination at work and in wider society. The TUC has set up Worksmart  - a website to help you get the most out of your working life, including knowing your employment rights. It has a brief guide to employment law and your rights with regard to discimination and harassment at work or you can call the TUC's 'Know your rights' helpline on 0870 600 4882. The Worksmart website also has a range of leaflets about your rights at work which are available to download.

Working Families

Working Families is the UK’s leading work-life balance organisation. They help and give a voice to working parents and carers, whilst also helping employers create workplaces which encourage work-life balance for everyone. They offer a free helpline for low income families on 0800 013 0313. The Working Families website has a wide range of downloadable factsheets on all aspects of work life balance, including your employment rights, flexible working, and pregnancy and maternity.