Bullying, discrimination and racism at work

Bullying, discrimination and racism are never acceptable. They break UK law and workplace rules, and you have a right to be safe and respected at work. Internationally recruited care workers sometimes experience unfair treatment in the workplace. This article explains your rights, what counts as racism or discrimination, and what practical steps you can take if it happens to you.

Read more below. You can also DOWNLOAD OUR FREE E-BOOK at the bottom of the page.

You Have the Right to Be Treated With Respect

Working in social care can be challenging, but being bullied or treated badly because of your race, nationality, colour or background should never be seen as “part of the job.”

Racism at work can take many forms. It may be obvious – such as racist insults, threats or offensive comments. Or it may be more subtle – like being ignored, treated differently, passed over for shifts, or being made to feel unwelcome because of who you are.
Bullying can include shouting, intimidation, unfair criticism, exclusion from teams, or being repeatedly treated in a way that undermines your confidence.

These behaviours can come from:

Managers or supervisors
Colleagues
Service users
Family members of the people you support

No matter who it comes from, it should always be taken seriously.

What the Law Says

UK law gives you strong protections. Under the Equality Act 2010, it is unlawful for an employer to:

Discriminate against you because of your race
Harass you with racist behaviour
Treat you badly because you complained about racism
Victimise you for speaking up

These protections apply whether you work full-time, part-time, on zero-hours contracts, or through an agency .
Your employer also has duties under health and safety law to protect you from abuse and harassment at work. They must take reasonable steps to keep you safe and to prevent racist behaviour from continuing .

Racism from colleagues or managers

If a colleague or manager behaves in a racist or discriminatory way, this is usually unlawful harassment. Your employer is responsible for dealing with it and can be held legally liable if they fail to act .

You have the right to:

Report it
Raise a grievance
Expect it to be properly investigated
Be protected from retaliation

Racism from service users or families

Sadly, some care workers experience racist abuse from the people they care for or their relatives. Even though the behaviour is coming from a third party, your employer still has a duty to protect you. They cannot simply tell you to “put up with it.”

Your employer should:

Challenge the behaviour
Put clear boundaries in place
Change visit arrangements
Provide paired visits or extra support
In serious cases, review whether the care arrangement should continue

What To Do If Racism Happens During a Shift

If you experience racist abuse while working:

Put your safety first
- If you feel threatened or unsafe, leave the situation immediately.
- If there is danger or intimidation, call 999.
- If it is safe to do so, you can say calmly:
  “I’m here to provide care, but I can’t continue if racist language is used. I will report this to my manager.”
Report it straight away
- As soon as you are safe:
  - Contact your manager or on-call supervisor
  - Tell them exactly what happened
  - Ask for support and next steps
- Do not wait to see if it happens again. Every incident should be reported.
Write down what happened
- Make a clear record as soon as possible:
  - Date and time
  - Where it happened
  - What was said or done (exact words if possible)
  - Who was involved
  - Who witnessed it
  - How it affected you
- Ask for the incident to be logged on your employer’s reporting system and keep copies of emails or messages for your own records .

Making a Formal Complaint

If racism continues, or your employer does not deal with it properly, you have the right to make a formal grievance. This is a written complaint explaining:

What happened
When and where
Who was involved
Why you believe it was racist or discriminatory
What action you want to happen

You have the right to be accompanied to grievance meetings by a trade union representative or a colleague. Importantly, you must not be punished or treated badly for raising concerns. If that happens, it can be another form of unlawful discrimination called victimisation.

You Don’t Have to Deal With It Alone

Experiencing racism or bullying can be deeply upsetting and isolating. Support is available. You can get help from:

Your trade union
ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
Citizens Advice
Employment law advisers
Occupational health or employee support services

If racist abuse involves threats, violence or criminal behaviour, it can also be reported to the police as a hate crime.

How Welcome Well Can Help

Welcome Well is here to support internationally recruited care workers across Cheshire and Merseyside. We can help you to:

Understand your rights
Think through your options
Draft emails or complaints
Prepare for meetings
Find specialist advice
Look after your wellbeing
Speaking up is not causing trouble. It is protecting yourself – and helping to improve the care sector for everyone.

Speaking up is not causing trouble. It is protecting yourself – and helping to improve the care sector for everyone. Download the e-book below for more information.

Final Message

You deserve to work in a safe, fair and respectful environment. Racism, discrimination and bullying are not acceptable – from anyone.

If something doesn’t feel right, trust that feeling, record it, and seek support.