Discrimination awards leap by 10 per cent
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Employers are counting the cost of unlawful discrimination, with a total of £3.88 million awarded by employment tribunals in 2001, according to research published today by IRS Equal Opportunities Review. This represents an increase of 10 per cent from last year’s total of £3.53 million. Once interest is factored in, the figure rises to just over £4m. This includes a record award of £278,801 for disability discrimination. The figures are taken from an annual survey conducted by IRS Equal Opportunities Review, which examined all 329 discrimination cases where compensation was awarded in 2001. The average award in disability cases has increased by 85 per cent from the previous year (the median rose by 39 per cent). The median award in sex discrimination claims also showed an increase in 2001. One reason has been higher awards of injury to feelings in sexual harassment cases. In 2001, several awards were also made against individual employees who either discriminated against colleagues or managers who failed to stop discrimination in the workplace. More : personneltoday.com |