Workplace discrimination in Ireland is prohibited across nine specific grounds. It covers not just dismissal but recruitment, promotion, pay, working conditions, and training. Many people experience discrimination without realising it is unlawful — or believing nothing can be done about it.
The Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015 prohibit discrimination in employment on nine grounds: gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, and membership of the Traveller community.
Discrimination can be direct — being treated less favourably because of a protected characteristic — or indirect — a workplace policy that appears neutral but disproportionately disadvantages people with a particular characteristic. Harassment and sexual harassment related to any of the nine grounds are also unlawful.
Document every incident of discriminatory treatment — dates, what was said or done, who was present. Keep copies of relevant emails, messages, or performance reviews. If you have raised the issue internally, keep copies of all correspondence. This documentation will be central to your claim.
Blessing had been working in a Dublin financial services firm for six years. She held a management qualification, had consistently strong performance reviews, and had applied for promotion on three separate occasions over two years. On each occasion she was passed over in favour of candidates with less experience and lower performance ratings.
When she requested feedback after the third rejection, she was told her interpersonal skills needed development. Her performance reviews contained no mention of this concern. She raised a formal grievance. The response was a two-line letter saying her concerns had been noted.
Her solicitor brought a claim under the Employment Equality Acts on the ground of race. The employer was required to produce evidence of the selection process for each promotion. The documentation was inconsistent and the stated criteria had been applied differently to Blessing than to successful candidates.
The case settled before the WRC hearing date.
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