Rights & Remedies
Discriminatory Grounds
The nine protected characteristics on which discrimination is prohibited in employment.
Definition
The Employment Equality Acts prohibit discrimination based on nine specific characteristics, referred to as 'discriminatory grounds' or 'protected characteristics.' These are gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, race, and membership of the Traveller community. Discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably than another on any of these grounds in an employment-related context.