(Newswire.net — August 15, 2019) — Anti-discrimination laws vary from country to country, and yet understanding how they vary between two of the most influential countries in the modern world can help set both a precedent and give international employers a clear overview on their responsibilities. Though introductory, this guide will help you understand the similarities and differences between the UK anti-discrimination laws and the Americans’ set of anti-discrimination laws:
UK Anti-Discrimination Laws
The United Kingdom consolidated its anti-discrimination laws with the Equality Act 2010. Before this act, you would need to undergo two different processes if the discrimination you faced was multi-faceted. For example, if you were being discriminated against for both your race and your gender, you would need to go through two separate complaint processes.
-
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
-
Race Relations Act 1976
-
Disability Discrimination Act 1995
The Equality Act 2010 added additional protections to fight against discrimination in all forms, from gender pay gaps to age discrimination cases.
It has been updated to encourage a more proactive hiring approach to disadvantaged people. The goal is to eliminate discrimination and to encourage employers to advance employees equally.
USA Anti-Discrimination Laws
The USA anti-discrimination laws have origins from the 1800s, in order to protect the African Americans of the time. The modern anti-discrimination laws have been updated and improved in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act makes it illegal to discriminate against people in the workplace due to their:
-
Race
-
Colour
-
Religion
-
Sex
-
National origin
-
Pregnancy status
-
Disability
-
Age
-
Immigration reform and control
-
Genetic information non-discrimination
There are some concessions to this. If there is a physical requirement for the job to maintain health and safety compliances, for example, then there are some protections. A weight-lifting requirement can mean that fewer women or no women at all are hired, but due to the health and safety requirement, this will be allowed under Title VII.
For requirement, these rules don’t come into effect until a company has at least 15 or more employees. Age anti-discrimination laws for requirement, however, don’t apply until a company has 20 or more employees.
The rights of employees under this act are protected by the EEOC, of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
What Can You Do If You Have Faced Discrimination At Work?
There are many instances where you can experience discrimination. It applies to those who have been discriminated against during the hiring process and those who have been hired already but face pay discrepancies or are not being advanced through due to your race, religion, or any other identifier.
Getting help with lawsuit is essential if you have a strong feeling you are being discriminated against work. If you have been penalised for an activity that co-workers get off with scot-free, for example, or if you were denied rightful promotions, you could be a victim of discrimination. Getting legal help can help you fight back against these practices and win compensation for your emotional pain and for punitive damages.
It can take a while to realise that discrimination is occurring, but once you do, you need to use the right channels to make your complaint and then hire legal representation if necessary.