It happened to someone I know - Discrimination

  

Any form of discrimination is not okay. 

Discrimination is when a person or group of people are treated less favourably than others based on a relevant or perceived protected characteristic.  The Open University has broadened the characteristics to include age, caring for dependants, disability, experience of being in care, gender reassignment (including gender, gender expression, gender identity), marital or civil partnership status, membership of the Traveller community, political opinion, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, trades union membership status, and type of employment contract, such as part-time or fixed term (for Open University employees only). 

Talk - If someone you know has been affected, you can encourage them to seek support. Alternatively, you can make an anonymous disclosure, which will allow us to investigate if there are multiple instances in one area. Or you or the person can make a report with contact details  so the University can take necessary action, in confidence.

Listen -  Just taking the time to listen to someone and talk about what has happened can help. 

Find out more:

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) provides further information.

Seek Support - There are a number of  organisations that provide support, including counselling for those affected by discrimination. You could encourage your colleague to reach out to such support.