Sexist behaviour towards you, or discrimination on the grounds of your gender or marital status, conducted by anybody at your place of work, can be against the law.
Sex discrimination can take many different forms. It might be direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, sexual harassment, or victimisation.
It can include:
Find out whether your employer has a policy about sex discrimination, what it says and how you might go about raising such issues with management. It might be part of a wider equal opportunities policy.
Make sure you make a written note of the behaviour you believe to be sexist or discriminatory, when it took place and by whom. Do this on each occasion (if it happens more than once).
Consider talking to work colleagues who you believe may be suffering from similar behaviour. If possible you could approach the problem together. If you are a member of a trade union talk to your union representative.
If you feel confident enough you might wish to talk to the people you believe are being sexist, or discriminating against you. Explain your feelings and ask them to change their behaviour
If nothing changes, or it is not appropriate to raise it directly, then you may have to follow your organisation's policy on sexual discrimination. If your organisation does not have a specific policy, you may have to use your organisation's grievance procedure. You have a legal right to be accompanied at the hearing of your grievance.
You may wish to contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission (a national body that can provide help and support to individuals who are being discriminated against on grounds of their sex). If you're thinking of bringing a claim of sex discrimination to an employment tribunal, you should normally use the grievance procedure first. In any event, a claim must usually be made promptly, and within 3 months of the discriminatory act, even where your grievance has not yet been heard.
Discrimination law is complex, and you should take advice at an early stage. If you are in a union then you can speak to your representative for advice. If you are not a union member, then you might want to talk to a solicitor (there might be a charge for such a meeting), your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Law Centre, or ACAS (08457 474747).
24 Feb 2012: When do you start getting paid?
The Interns: Getting treated like a dogsbody?