Discrimination on the grounds of race
Understand how race discrimination can occur in the workplace and how to avoid it.
It's unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a job seeker or employee on the grounds of:
- race
- national origin
- ethnic origin
- colour
- nationality, including citizenship
It is deemed to be discrimination on the grounds of race to discriminate against a person because they are a member of the Irish Traveller Community.
Segregation of employees on the grounds of race is also unlawful.
Direct discrimination would occur if, for example, an employer refused to employ someone because they were not white or because they were English.
Indirect discrimination would potentially occur if, for example, an employer refused to employ people who could not write in English. That job criterion would not be unlawful, however, if it could be justified by reference to the needs of the job, for example, where an ability to read and write in English was necessary for the job.
Note that you may be able to state in a person specification that the job holder must be of a particular race, national origin, etc where being of that race, national origin etc is an occupational requirement - see discrimination during the recruitment process.
For more on these types of discrimination and discrimination law in general, see equality law and types of discrimination.