Equality decisions highlight factors considered by WRC when determining legitimacy of alleged act of discrimination

Ireland has strong equality legislation that protects employees and those associated with the workplace from discrimination in access to employment, as well as providing protections around how people are treated during employment. The Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 form the basis of this legislative cover, with additional protections afforded through The Equality Act 2004, The Equal Status Acts 2000-2015, Employment Equality Act 1998 (Code of Practice) (Harassment) Order 2012 (S.I. No. 208 of 2012), and S.I. 674 of 2020: Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work under the Industrial Relations Act 1990.

A number of recent Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Adjudicator’s decisions provide employers with insight into practices which should be considered when making decisions regarding employees or potential employees. They also shed some light on the factors considered by the WRC when determining the legitimacy of an alleged act of discrimination.