Unlawful discrimination takes place when, an individual or a group of people is treated less favourably than others based on a protected characteristic (age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.)
Discrimination can be direct (i.e., where you are treated worse than another person because of a protected characteristic) or indirect (i.e., when a policy applies in the same way for everybody but disadvantages a group of people who share a protected characteristic.)
There are three different forms of direct discrimination, which can occur separately or in conjunction with one another:
- Due to having a protected characteristic – when someone is treated less favourably on the grounds that they have a protected characteristic.
- By association – discrimination due to someone’s relationship with a person with a protected characteristic.
- By perception – discrimination due to perception that they have a protected characteristic.
For a detailed description of direct and indirect discrimination, please visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission website.
Visit Equality and Human Rights Commission’s definition and/or Citizens Advice Scotland to learn more about discrimination.
Please note that where a complaint of discrimination is raised under the Staff or Student Dignity and Respect Policies, the definition of discrimination set out in that policies will apply.
Students’ conduct is upheld via the Code of Student Conduct and the Student Dignity and Respect Policy, and for staff conduct the Staff Dignity and Respect Policy and/or the Disciplinary Policy.