In the UK it is illegal to discriminate again someone because of their ‘protected characteristics’. These include:

• age
• gender reassignment
• being married or in a civil partnership
• being pregnant or on maternity leave
• disability
• race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

The Equality act 2010 protects you from discrimination:

• at work
• in education
• as a consumer
• when using public services
• when buying or renting property
• as a member or guest of a private club or association

This act also applies to friends and family of someone with protected characteristics OR to anyone speaking up in aid of someone who is being discriminated against.

Discrimination can include treating someone unfairly due to their protected characteristic, making rules that unfairly disadvantage someone with a protected characteristic and harassment or bullying behaviour against someone with a protected characteristic.

Domestic violence isn’t always physical harm, Coercive and controlling behaviour is a form of domestic violence and may be more subtle than physical abuse.

Follow this link to Sorted:Supported staying safe page

Bullying in the workplace may involve arguments or rudeness but it can also be more subtle. Bullying is an under-recognized and often inadequately managed problem in the workplace. As well as bullying, individuals may be subjected to other problematic behaviours such as discrimination and harassment.

Forms of workplace bullying include:

• Ignoring or excluding people and their contributions.
• Spreading rumours or inappropriately discussing someone’s personal life.
• Unfair treatment
• Any behaviour intended to humiliate, threaten or intimidate someone.
• Denying someone opportunities such as promotions or training.
• Overloading someone with work.
• Name calling or directed use of offensive language.

Bullying can make working life miserable. You can lose confidence in yourself, you can feel ill and depressed, and find it hard to motivate yourself to work.

Bullying is not always a case of someone picking on the weak. Sometimes a person’s strengths in the workplace can make the bully feel threatened, and that triggers their behaviour.

If you are being bullied let your manager or union or staff representative know of the problem, or seek advice elsewhere.

Cyberbullying is bullying online and any form of anti-social behaviour over the internet or via a mobile device. It is an attack or abuse, using technology, which is intended to cause another person harm, distress or personal loss.

Cyberbullying may include:

• Spreading of rumours and false information
• Sending hurtful messages
• Catfishing or identity fraud
• Intimidation or blackmail
• revenge porn
• grooming (including enticing or goading self-harm or criminal behaviour)

For further information please see Sorted:Supported’s Online and Mobile Safety page