Tackle discrimination head-on

If you’re facing discrimination, try to resolve it informally first. Good employers will have policies to deal with bullying, harassment, equality and diversity. If this fails, raise a grievance in writing and send this to your employer. Diarise incidents you feel may be acts of harassment, noting down the time and date.

Direct discrimination is where someone treats you less favourably because of a protected characteristic. Indirect discrimination is where your employer applies a rule or practice that is apparently neutral, but which has an adverse effect on someone. For example, a requirement to work full-time might affect disabled workers.

Harassment is where someone violates your dignity or creates a hostile environment. It doesn’t have to be speech; it can be images, a message or even something someone says behind your back.

Speak up, because if you don’t challenge it nothing will change.

‘A woman’s selfworth is even more powerful when we share it with each other.’ Geri Halliwell