Unfair treatment of employees in the workplace is discriminatory. It can lead to them feeling ashamed, upset or even scared. The morale of employees goes down. Unfair treatment drains employees of their energies and motivation.
This eventually affects the levels of productivity of employees who are being unfairly treated.
Unfair Treatment Defined
It can be classed as discrimination if you are seen as treating a member of staff unfairly based on who they are. This type of treatment towards another can cause them to be upset and in anguish.
Treatment like this has no real positive advantage for a business or its employees.
There have been reports of high absence levels experienced when this kind of behaviour is commonplace. Some employees will address the issue head-on, and some will rather phone in sick rather than face the feeling of being mistreated.
If issues like this are not addressed immediately, it can act like an internal rot that can destroy employee morale and the overall productivity of the business.
Unfair treatment is the illegal treatment of an employee in an unfair and unethical manner which includes harassment. This happens due to one’s protected characteristics such as age, disability, race, gender reassignment, sex, maternity and pregnancy, marriage and civil partnership, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
Both employers and fellow employees can treat one unfairly due to these characteristics.
Unfair treatment happens all across cadres of employment. It happens from the top to the bottom of the chain of command. Executives can also be involved in the unfair treatment of employees.
Spreading rumours within the workplace is a form of unfair treatment. So is overlooking one’s promotion for no objective reason. Making offensive comments about an employee is also construed as unfair treatment.
Menial tasks and unfair criticism within the workplace that make an employee’s life difficult are discriminatory. Dismissal, transfer or demotion with no fair disciplinary procedure infers to unfair treatment.
Unfair treatment in the workplace can also occur due to illness. An employee may suffer from a mental health condition or disability. Steps should be taken to create a conducive environment for such an employee so as to help make his or her job easier.
Unfair treatment in the workplace can also involve employment terms and conditions and trade union membership. Employees doing the same job need to have similar terms. Discrimination can occur when one has a fixed-term contract while another has a part-time or temporary contract.
Unfair treatment in the workplace is not good for results. It does not work in favour of a business. Employees should at all times be treated fairly and with respect.
Employers need to enforce measures to ensure that this is achieved. They should also abide by the law when it comes to the treatment of employees.
The content on this page is for general awareness only. It is not intended to constitute professional or legal advice. Changes to legislation may have happened since this article was published. The contents of this article should not be used as a basis for action and the reader should be advised to seek the appropriate professional advice based on their individual circumstances.
David Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio Berkshire and People Management Magazine. David has represented individual and corporate clients in the employment tribunal as well as the High Court and County Court. David is a member of The Law Society and The Employment Lawyers Association (ELA UK). To contact David, visit the Contact Us page. For media enquiries: info@dphlegal.com.