Singles singled out for abuse
10 April 2006
A PRESTON employment lawyer has issued a warning to businesses to be careful not to treat workers differently if they are single – or they could find themselves in court.
A new survey of 4,000 men and women found that office Bridget Jones’ are likely to be discriminated against in the workplace unless they find a partner.
Six-out-of-ten single people questioned in the survey had experienced some form of “partnerism” at work because they were not romantically attached.
The most common complaints from single people were that they had to work longer hours, more weekends and attend more out-of-hours functions than colleagues who were in relationships.
But although the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 legislates against treating people less favourably if they are married - it does not extend to protecting single people from discrimination.
Sadiq Vohra, partner at Lancashire law firm MWR Solicitors, said; “Surprisingly in the eyes of the law it is not unlawful to discriminate against someone because they are not married.
“Discrimination of any kind can be devastating for the victim and cannot be condoned in the modern workplace but for people suffering from partnerism there is no legal redress as the law stands at the moment in England, Scotland and Wales.
“The Sex Discrimination Act prohibits sexual discrimination in employment against individuals who are married.
“Since the Civil Partnership Act came into force in December 2005 the same protection afforded to married people is afforded to civil partners but there is still no mention of protecting single people.
“If people are treated less favourably compared to colleagues at work, this may be covered under a general equality clause in their contract of employment. Whether you have the relevant equality clause or not you can put in a formal grievance. If this does not resolve the issue then you may be able to resign and male a claim for constructive dismissal, providing the issues are sufficiently fundamental.”
MWR is one of Preston’s largest private client law firms. Its legal services include employment law, road traffic accidents, accidents at work, occupational diseases, conveyancing and wills and probate.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The survey was carried out by media company Carat.
In it two-thirds of single men said they had experienced at least one instance of discrimination while the figure was lower for single women at 48 per cent.
70 per cent of 16-24 year-olds said they had experienced coupleist attitudes compared to 58 per cent of 25 44-year-olds and 45 per cent of 45-64 year-olds.
Half of the people questioned said being single had also affected attitudes in their social lives such as being excluded from social events which were dominated by couples.
