Rung 0 · Know where you stand

Spot it early

5 min read · Reviewed 22 June 2026

Something at work doesn't feel right. Before it is ever a 'claim', it is a problem you can act on. This page helps you recognise whether it might be unlawful — and, just as important, what to start doing now.

Could this be discrimination, victimisation, or a detriment?

The Equality Act 2010 protects you from being treated worse because of a protected characteristic (such as race, sex, disability, age, religion or belief), from being punished for complaining about discrimination (victimisation), and from being put at a disadvantage. You do not need to be sure it is unlawful to start acting sensibly.

Start recording now — the single most useful thing you can do

The most common regret of people who later bring a claim is not keeping a record. Start a simple, dated note: what happened, when, who was there, and what was said. Keep copies of relevant emails and messages. A contemporaneous record — made at the time — is far more persuasive than memory months later.

Watch the clock from day one

Discrimination claims have a strict time limit — generally three months less a day from the act. Do not let a problem drift: note the date of what happened and work out your deadline early. Missing it can lose a strong claim before anyone looks at the merits.

The lowest rung is often the best

Spotting a problem early does not mean rushing to a tribunal. Most workplace problems are best resolved by raising them calmly and informally first. Recognising it early simply gives you the choice — and the records you will need if it goes further.