WORKPLACE ANSWER
What should I do if I'm being treated unfairly at work?
Being treated unfairly at work can feel frustrating and confusing. Something can feel unfair without necessarily meaning an employment law has been broken. The first step is to understand what has happened, why it feels unfair and what kind of workplace issue it might be.
Quick Answer
If you believe you are being treated unfairly, start by identifying what has happened and why you think the treatment is unfair. Keep a clear, factual record of what is going on and consider whether it might involve manager behaviour, bullying, harassment, discrimination or another specific workplace issue. Some unfair treatment may involve particular employment rights, while other situations may feel unfair without necessarily being unlawful. Where it feels appropriate, you may be able to raise the issue informally. If the issue continues, is serious or informal action is not appropriate, you can consider raising the concern more formally.
Try to resolve the matter informally first. If that fails, decide if you need to raise a formal grievance at work.
What Can Unfair Treatment at Work Look Like?
Unfair treatment at work can cover many different situations. For example, you might feel you are:
- Being treated differently from colleagues in similar roles
- Being overlooked for opportunities without a clear reason
- Receiving unexpected or inconsistent criticism
- Experiencing inconsistent workplace decisions
- Facing changes to your working arrangements that feel unreasonable
- Having ongoing problems involving a manager
- Experiencing bullying or other inappropriate behaviour
These situations can have very different causes and do not all involve the same workplace or legal rights. The important first step is understanding what has happened and why it feels unfair.
What Kind of Unfair Treatment Is This?
Once you have a clearer picture of what has happened, it can help to work out what kind of issue you may be dealing with:
- Manager treatment
If your main concern is how a manager is treating you, you may want to read the WorkAnswers guidance on what to do if your manager treats you unfairly.
- Bullying
If the behaviour is intimidating, humiliating, undermining or otherwise inappropriate, you may want to read the WorkAnswers guidance on bullying at work.
- Harassment
If the behaviour may involve harassment, you may want to read the WorkAnswers guidance on experiencing harassment at work.
- Discrimination
If you think the treatment may be connected to a protected characteristic (such as age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation) or another discrimination issue, you may want to read the relevant WorkAnswers guidance on discrimination.
- A general workplace concern
If you have identified the problem and want to know how to raise it, you may want to read the WorkAnswers guidance on how to raise a concern at work.
- A specific workplace right
If your concern is about pay, holiday, working arrangements, dismissal or another specific employment right, look for the relevant WorkAnswers guidance on that topic rather than trying to cover all rights on this page.
Is Unfair Treatment Always Against the Law?
No. Something can feel unfair without necessarily being unlawful. Some situations may involve specific legal protections, including certain forms of discrimination, harassment or other protected workplace situations. Other disagreements, decisions or poor treatment may be better addressed through workplace discussions or internal procedures. Not every unfair workplace decision breaches employment law.
Keep a Record of What Happened
Keeping a clear, factual record can help you understand what is going on and explain it if you decide to raise the issue. Try to note:
- Relevant dates and times
- What happened and what was said or done
- Who was involved
- Any witnesses (even if they did not say anything)
- Relevant emails, messages, letters or documents
- Any explanations given by your employer or manager
- Anything you have already done to try to resolve the situation
Keep your notes factual and in plain language. The aim is to understand the situation and be able to describe it clearly, not to build a legal “case” before you know what has happened.
What Can I Do About Unfair Treatment?
What Usually Happens Next?
What happens after you raise a concern about unfair treatment will depend on the issue and how it has been raised. For example, your employer might:
- Give you an explanation that resolves the issue
- Discuss the matter with you informally
- Involve a manager or HR to look into the situation
- Ask for more information or speak to other people involved
- Use a formal workplace process, such as a grievance procedure, where appropriate
- Suggest further steps if a specific employment right appears to be involved
Not every concern automatically becomes a formal grievance or investigation. The aim is usually to understand the issue and decide on a proportionate way to address it.
Is unfair treatment always against the law?
No. Unfair treatment and unlawful treatment are not always the same thing. Some situations may involve specific legal protections, such as certain types of discrimination or harassment. Others may be better dealt with through workplace discussions or internal procedures. If you are unsure, it can help to understand what has happened, check any relevant policies and look at the more detailed WorkAnswers guidance on the type of issue you think you may be facing.
Should I raise my concerns straight away?
Raising an issue early can sometimes help resolve misunderstandings or stop a situation from getting worse. However, the right approach depends on the circumstances and how serious the issue is. It can help to take a little time to understand what has happened, organise your thoughts and decide who the most appropriate person is to speak to and whether to raise it informally or formally.
Depending on the circumstances, you might:
- Ask for clarification about a decision or situation
- Speak to your manager where that feels appropriate
- Raise the issue with another manager or HR
- Use an appropriate informal workplace process
- Raise a formal concern or grievance if necessary
- Seek further guidance where a specific employment right may be involved
You do not always have to raise something informally first, especially if the issue is serious or an informal approach would not be appropriate. If you have decided you want to raise the matter, you may want to read the WorkAnswers guidance on how to raise a concern at work.
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What can I do if I am being bullied at work?
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Talk It Through
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