Compensation awards for discrimination in the workplace hit their
highest-ever levels last year.
Tribunals awarded a total of £3.88m, an increase of 10 per cent on the
previous year, according to research by the Equal Opportunities Review.
The study, which covered all 329 discrimination cases where compensation was
awarded during 2001, reveals the median amount awarded in sex discrimination
cases had increased by 5.7 per cent to £5,125 compared with £4,847 in 2000.
However, the total number of actual sex discrimination cases decreased
marginally.
The biggest increase in payouts was for disability cases, where average
awards increased by 85 per cent. The survey also reveals the average amount
awarded in race discrimination cases has declined.
