Employment Law 6 - Lecture 6: Discrimination Law: Remedies and Prohibited Conduct: Harassment, Victimisation Flashcards
what about this lecture?
Last 1 to do with discrimination law- discrim law very much focus of the exam
review of previous lec?
Review of lecture 5:
In lecture 5, we acquired the ability to:
(i) explain in detail a 2nd of the 4 main types of prohibited conduct (PCo), namely:
S 19: Indirect discrimination;
the other 3 main types being:
S 13: Direct discrimination;
S 26: Harassment; and
S 27: Victimisation; and
(ii) to apply our knowledge of s 19 to a fictitious scenario
what we did last time?
What did we do last time
Mainly indirect discrim- face of it measure reuirmenet or policy seems to be fair to all but when u dig deeper and find stats to it find disporp no of 1 set from that partic protec ch e.g men or women indirectly suffer more than the others. Height ov 1 e.g advert height 6 foot discrim females more tall males than females = ID
Finished by applyin what we learn to imagin scenario do
what we doing today?
2 today
Today s.26 and 27- and do problem style scenario and finally remdies for discrim claim
1st thing to not of remedies
aims for lec 6?
Preview of lecture 6:
Our aims in lecture 6 are to acquire the ability to:
(i) explain in detail and apply the law on remedies re a discrimination claim; and
(ii) explain in detail and apply the remaining 2 of the 4 main types of prohibited conduct (PCo), namely:
S 26: Harassment; and
S 27: Victimisation;
the other 2 main types being:
S 13: Direct discrimination; and
S 19: Indirect discrimination
what are discrim law remedies?
Discrimination law remedies
Let’s begin this lecture by looking at discrimination law remedies
It is important that we appreciate that we are considering remedies for all 6 types of PCo, not just for s 26 harassment and s 27 victimisation
Remedies- what are remedies for?
These are not rem just for today theyre remedies for any discrim claim- so remedy gen for any c who satfies et that they have claim in respect of any of 6 types of prohib cond
what are the 3 potential remedies?
The 3 potential remedies available to a successful discrimination claimant are:
(i) a declaration;
(ii) financial compensation; or
(iii) a recommendation
As always, let’s start with the primary source, the statute
what about the remedies?
3 rem for succ
r.a.w
Order cos order stats covers them
Start primary source = stat
what section is for remedies?
S 124: Remedies: general: s.124 ea 3 rem tribunal may award
r.aw.
(2) The tribunal may –
what is s. 124 2 a?
(a) make a declaration as to the rights of the complainant and the respondent in relation to the matters to which the proceedings relate;
what is s. 124 2 b?
(b) order the respondent to pay compensation to the complainant;
what is s.124 2 c?
(c) make an appropriate recommendation
what is s,124 a in depth?
(i) S 124(2)(a): A declaration:
A declaration (eg that the claimant has been a victim of discrimination by the defendant employer) is often the remedy most feared by an employer due to the damage caused by bad publicity
s.124 a in other words?
r.a.w – actual fact this prob remedy that employer most concerned about bc, what would be far more damaging to employer than to have to pay out to 1 individ , would be for local media to get hold of fact that theyre being naughty. Might lose far more customers bad pub than would for paying 1 individual. So for c neither here nor ther as c just want finanla comp,but from employers perspective worried about decl-
what is decl more often about?
and decl more often than not pointing out how naughty employer been
what is s.124 2 b?
(ii) S 124(2)(b): Financial compensation:
what every c want
Clien tonly int 2 things are they going to win what are they going to get- this would be most interesting for c
what about this remedy?
This is the most common remedy for a successful discrimination claimant
by far the largest what?
By far the largest element of financial compensation for successful discrimination claimants tends to be loss of earnings
So by far largest el tends to be loss of earning, hw , although we got used tp1 to appreiacting claims like unfair dis mislal u cnat get anything from injury to feelings, you very much can for discrim.
what it is it important to do?
However, it’s important to appreciate that some successful discrimination claimants (eg those who have successfully argued breach of s 26 harassment) suffer no loss of earnings and are recompensed for injury to feelings only
in partic what?
In partic if you think about it if ur seuxlaly harassed in workplace. U still get same salary but uve just been humiliated. Injury feelings there is money avail for that
what will we recall employ 1?
We’ll recall from our Employment 1 module that the ERA places a statutory cap on some claims, such as unfair dismissal (UD) and redundancy payment (RP)
what will we also recall employ 1?
But we’ll also recall from lecture 1 of our Employment 2 module that we agreed there’s no limit on the overall amount a successful discrimination claimant might be awarded
therefore an et can do what?
Theoretically, therefore, an ET can award as much as it feels appropriate to successful discrimination claimants
what abiut the cap?
Theres NO OVERRAL CAP- so in all other claim tp1 = cap wd cap was amount c would have received if prop performed
But for a discrim claim, there is no ceiling
So that’s something to note
what has been developed and what case?
However, guidelines have been developed through case law, such as Vento 2003 and Da’Bell 2010, to set a cap in respect of the injury to feelings element of an overall discrimination award
what was said in de bell?
The current Da’ Bell 2010 guidelines are:
one off incident = £500 - £6,000;
several incidents = £6,000 - £18,000; and
relentless campaign = £18,000 - £30,000
so in other words with cap?
Hw in injury to feeling el- there is effectively a cap cos what cts done , first cas vento, most recient guifliens = da bell
In essence have cap
examle of cap?
So for injury feelings/ ask was harassed only once, if several times or was it just relentless. But say again its import to apprec that 30,000 cap applies to injury to feelings alone. And injury to feelings is just 1 el of overall award, so is no cap for overall award.- and wherever the tribunal is the veue for deicng a cas,e they always have that option, same option with
wha about the acas code?
As we saw with UD in Employment 1, if an ET feels that a defendant has not followed the ACAS code of behaviour, it can order that the employer pays the successful claimant an additional 25% on top of the original figure the ET decides it should pay, and vice versa if it feels the claimant has not followed the ACAS code of behaviour
what is this the same option with?
Same option with ud and rp claims, if the d employer or c was partic bad behaviour then tribunal either increase or decrease dependant on part anything bte 1% to 25%
what is s.124 c?
(iii) S 124(2)(c): A recommendation:
recommedation in depth?
A recommendation (eg that the defendant employer takes a specified step within a specified period, such as apologise to the claimant or offer the claimant the next available promotion) tends only to be relevant when a successful claimant intends, as is common with discrimination law, to continue to work for the defendant employer against whom they bring their claim
recommendation short version?
3rd type of rem= recommediation = aapology or maybe poffer training in certain are
what does it tend to be more often?
And it tends to be more often tha not a remedy awarded where the working chooses to carry on working with the d employer.
were used by now what?
Were used by now, that fact that further req we got used to for ud for wd for re needs to be dismissal does not apply to discrim
what do u not have to be?
. U don’t need to have been dismissed. You can stay working for your employer and still bring a discrim claim from within.
So that’s remedies
HARRASSSMENT- prohib conduct- what we onto now?
S 26: Harassment:
Having considered remedies, let’s now turn our attention back to the remaining 2 of the 6 types of PCo
The 3rd of the 4 main types of prohibited conduct is:
S 26: Harassment
As always, let’s start by going straight to the primary source, namely the relevant statute, which is s 26 of the EA 2010
more on intro of harrassment?
Now look at last 2 type of prohib con and 1st = harass
So some text books saying 4 main 1’s if so this is 3rd of4 mai ones
Always start at primary source = act
what section is harrassemtn and go in depth?
S 26: Harassment:
(1) A person (A) harasses another (B) if –
(a) A engages in unwanted conduct re a relevant protected characteristic (RPCh)
(b) the conduct has the purpose or effect of
(i) violating B’s dignity or
(ii) creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for B
what about the stat to this ?
r.a.w – bit underline wont find in statute –
what are the words that are underlined?
1 a - unwanted conduct
1 b - purpose or effect
1 b i - (i) dignity or
1 b (ii)- humiliating
unwanted conduct in depth?
A UWANTED CINDUCT UNWANTED BY THE C – now were used to undetsnading that if word rel appears it means the partic prohib e.g harras is not avail for all 9 but only avail for 7
B in depth?
B- r.a. NOW as we will revist that word effect has massive impaxt. Bc prevents d from saying ,that wasn’t the purpose/aim. The way that the c was wounded by comment was unintentional. By including word or effect it makes it not subjective but objective test. Bc tribunal can turn around and say well, even if didn’t intend it this has veen the effect. So that word effect is the word that make it an objective test rather than subjective test. Violating bs dig or creating intim … could underlined all of them but word tribunal use mostly is humiliating. So its got to be
so its got to be?
UNWANTED AND HVE PURPOSE OR EFFECT FIG OR HUMIL
s.26 2?
(2) A also harasses B if –
(a) A engages in unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, and
(b) the conduct has the purpose or effect referred to in subsection (1)(b)
sub sec 2 in other words?
Sub sec 2- r.a.w 2 a and again has word purpose or effct
s.26 3?
(3) A also harasses B if –
(a) A or another person engages in unwanted conduct of a sexual nature or that is related to gender reassignment or sex,
(b) the conduct has the purpose or effect referred to in subsection (1)(b), and
(c) because of B’s rejection of or submission to the conduct, A treats B less favourably than A would treat B if B had not rejected or submitted to the conduct
s.26 4?
(4) In deciding whether conduct has the effect referred to in subsection (1)(b), each of the following must be taken into account:
(a) the perception of B;
(b) the other circumstances of the case;
(c) whether it is reasonable for the conduct to have that effect
s.26 4 in other words?
Sub sec 4 is importnant
PERCPETION SHOUKD UNDERLINE- WHY COS IF CAST MIND BACK TO ELC 1 – we agreed that 1 of the many reasons offered by employers for believein that ea and discirm law marks point where pendulum swung to far in favour fo worke,r was that disxrim claims focus on how the c felt, not how anyone else felt they should ahev felt. So tis the eprcp of c that matters.
e.G the banter thing and then 1 thing and u start crying etc. migt ll think that but if go to tribunal saud that 1 thing said belowe th blet and so ribunal all of u could turn up tot ribunl sense of humour failure , bizaree reaction they wouldn t care. PERCPETION S,26 4A all tribunal listen to is how it actually made me feel.
s.24 5?
(5) The RPChs are -
only 7 of the 9 PChs listed at s 4, with
(i) marriage & civil partnership and
(ii) pregnancy & maternity
both excluded
sub sec 5 in other words?
Sub sec 5 that lifts 7 of 9 protech ch avail to harras claim. 2 aremt In the list is MARRIAGE AND CIVIL AND PREGAN C AND MAT
So that slaw that s always our starting point is that primary source.! All about the law
what is meant by comparator?
Comparator
We agreed in lecture 3 that, whilst the PCos at sections 15 and 20 EA require no comparator, those at sections 13 and 19 EA do require a comparator
What, therefore, is the situation re s 26 and s 27 EA?
Like the PCos at sections 15 and 20 EA , but unlike those at sections 13 and 19 EA, those at s 26 and s 27 require no comparator
what did we agree with comparator?
C we agreed some type of prohib c rwuire c . So 2 type relates disab = s.15 and 20 no c , s.13 most requires C s.19 also require c but that pool of comp, whereas s.26 and s27 they don’t require c
is there a defence to s.26?
Is there any defence to s 26?
We saw in lecture 3 that a defendant employer has 2 potential defences to a s 15 claim, at s 15(1)(b) and s15(2), but no ‘official’ defence (only 2 counter-arguments) to a s 21 claim re s 20
what we see in lec 4?
We then saw in lecture 4 that the answer to the question of whether a defendant employer has a defence to a s 13 claim depends on the PCh in question (eg proportionality can be a defence re the PCh of age) but, as a general rule, the only defence an employer defendant can argue is a genuine occupational requirement (GOR)
whar must we do with this opp?
Always use this as opp to revise which prohib co hav defence and which don’t. rmeebr we agreed s.15 discrim arising form disab has 2 defence prop defence and defenc eof not having known e.g woul need to relate emntal than physical. And thrn with s.20 theres no official dfence but is counter arg. Then we say in next lec
Thatfor dd – cerain specif cha have a ind of defendece so age r.aw above
- Cases to see how rleutant tribunal is to conciede that it was a genuine occ uaptional req e.g role of batman or eneding someone speci gender e.g srwshcing people.
what did we see in lec 5?
We then saw in lecture 5 that a defendant employer has 1 potential defence to a s 19 claim, at s 19(2)(d)
In today’s lecture, we need to decide whether there is any defence to s 26
lec 6 in depth?
We saw that s.19 indirect dscirm has one potential defence= prop – said sev times now any uk stats passed since 200 has ref to properitonality- strasborg- 4 scenarios we leaent how to apply that defence, and seen how UNFAIR IT CAN BE IF STATS NOT ON UR SIDE, so brings us to s.26 and to ask ourselves,
Dio we think.. Lec 6 contains defence
no fewer 3 sec or sub sec olf s26 theres this repat PURPOSE AND EFFECT, so weve already agreed that’s its not a subjective test. So given that we know that d employer is deprived ofd enfncce honestly not what I intended. Didn’t mean to hurtht agt person = irrle. If it had effect of hurting or humiliating them then that’s enough
act 1?
Lecture 6 Activity 1:
Maybe we know but, if we had to guess, do we think there is any defence to s 26?
It might help us to note that s 26(1)(b), s 26(2)(b) and s 26 (3)(b) all contain the words ‘purpose or effect’
answer act 1?
Answer:
The answer is that there is no defence to a s 26 claim
A clue that this might be the case was the fact that s 26(1)(b), s 26(2)(b) and s 26 (3)(b) all contain the words ‘purpose or effect’
The inclusion of the word ‘effect’ renders the test an ET should apply objective rather than subjective, which, in turn, means that lack of intention is no justification for having made the claimant feel humiliated
We saw in lecture 1 that a general principle of discrimination law is that motive, or, more specifically, the reasons behind alleged discrimination, tends to be irrelevant in an ET’s eyes and, instead, what matters is whether the discrimination occurred
what is there no huge surpsie about s.26?
Not huge surpise no defence to s.26 itself
Few sdes time is defence to s.109 vic liability but s.26 self = no and those words PURPOSR AND ISNG LE WORD EFFECT is big reason why there is no defence. Makes it a objective test.
what did we agree?
We agreed that the emphasis is on how the victim actually felt rather than how 3rd parties who were present might have expected the victim to feel
An ET will assess a s 26 claim through the victim’s eyes
what is it all about with harrass?
So its all abpit with harrassmen tin particular that it is all about with harra how v feels. Bc of wording of s.26 (4)
what about vic liability?
Vicarious liability
In lecture 1 we mentioned its embracement of the concept of VL as 1 of the reasons why employers feel the EA 2010 is overly favourable towards workers
vl as contained in s.109?
VL, as contained in s 109 EA, applies more commonly to s 26 than to any of the other 5 types of PCo
what does now seem good time to do?
So now seems a good time to remind ourselves of the s 109 wording
when did we mentiont his?
VL and somerhing we mentioned back in lec 1 – discri law weghed worker and against employer . 1 paritcal unfair
VL APPLIES BY FAR MOST COMM TO HARRASSME
what s.109?
S109: Liability of employers and principals:
(1) Anything done by a person (A) in the course of A’s employment must be treated as also done by the employer
(3) It does not matter whether that thing is done with the employer’s knowledge or approval
vl extra?
VL R.A.W
e.E ur all colle and work for me, and of u says a terrible thing , shocking e.g of sexual harras – pro bunfir if I ur employer blamed for that an yets.109 makes me liable. Seems unfair! – that’s why emplpyer thing discrim against them .f airoung person who said it should be in trouble but y should emplpyer when didn’t kno. Yet that’s what s.109 does. It maes employer VL.
s.109 4?
(4) In proceedings against A’s employer (B) in respect of anything alleged to have been done by A in the course of A’s employment it is a defence for B to show that B took all reasonable steps to prevent A –
s.109 4 a?
(a) from doing that thing, or
s.109 4 b?
(b) from doing anything of that description
what is the only defence have in other words?
Only defence have is contain sujb sedc 4 109- tjat I didn’t just take some steps or most steps , but ALL REASONABLE STEPS to prevent it happening. So remebr said n o defence or justifaicaiton for ahrrasing some 1. so 1 did harassing not not avial to you. Only avial to me bc im vl for what ahppend. So I the employer have chance of defending mysel. By saying I shouldn’t be made vl. Cos ive takn all reasonable seps to make sure no harras or prejudice in work place.