There are two main types of discrimination – direct and indirect discrimination.
Direct discrimination
When a person is treated less well, in comparison with someone else, because of his or her racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.
Examples of direct discrimination: a shop owner who refuses to hire suitably qualified people simply because they are of a certain race or ethnic origin, or an employer who specifies in a job advert that only young people should apply even though the job in question could be done perfectly well by an older person.
Indirect discrimination
When an apparently neutral specification, criteria or practice would disadvantage people on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation unless the practice can be objectively justified by a legitimate aim.
Examples of indirect discrimination: a translation company insists that all those applying for jobs as translators have driving licences because there is an occasional need to deliver or collect work from clients. Since this prevents some people with disabilities from applying and as driving is not a core requirement for doing the job, the company is effectively discriminating against this particular group of people, unless it can demonstrate that there is an objective reason to justify this measure.
A department store prohibits its employees from wearing hats when serving customers. This rule means that people whose religious beliefs require them to cover their heads, such as Muslim women, are prevented from working in the shop. The store is indirectly discriminating against this group of people unless it can demonstrate that there is an objective reason to justify the policy.
Have you been discriminated against? Learn more about your rights and responsibilities and visit the Who can help? page for more information on where to go for help and advice.
Are you an employer? Information on how to recognise discrimination, take steps to tackle it, and how diversity could benefit your company is available in the Diversity and Business section.
Films, images and publications on discrimination and diversity can also be found in the Resources section
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