What is indirect discrimination?

Indirect discrimination is where a rule that applies equally to everyone unintentionally puts certain groups at a particular disadvantage.

Example: Jane who is 15 applies for a Saturday job in her local shop. This is the first time she has applied for a job. The shop owner tells her that the job requires previous experience of shop work. Although it’s the same rule for all job applicants and the job is open to both younger and older people alike, requiring “previous experience” indirectly excludes many younger people like Jane who because of their age will not have had the chance to get experience. Unless the shop owner can give a very good reason for requiring “previous experience” and can show that it really is necessary for doing the job, this will be against the law.