Detriment for enforcing a right – content pattern

'Detriment' is when an employee is treated less favourably by their employer because they assert a protected employment right, like the right to minimum wage.

When to use this pattern

Use this pattern to explain detriment when it might apply to a protected employment right.

Explain it at the first mention on a page by including:

  • contextual content – including either one example or multiple examples in bullets
  • the definition
  • examples

The pattern

An employer must not cause [you/someone/an employee/a worker] 'detriment' [if/because] [you/they] [something that's done or is happening that's connected with a protected employment right].

Detriment means [you experience/someone experiences] one or both of the following:

  • being treated worse than before
  • having [your/their] situation made worse

Examples of detriment could be:

  • [their employer/your employer] reduces [their/your] hours
  • [they/you] experience bullying
  • [they/you] experience harassment
  • [their employer/your employer] turns down [their/your] training requests without good reason
  • [they/you] are overlooked for promotions or development opportunities

Example in content

An employer must not cause an employee 'detriment' if they:

  • become entitled to a higher rate of minimum wage 
  • assert their right to minimum wage 
  • make a complaint to HMRC or a claim to an employment tribunal 

Detriment means someone experiences one or both of the following:

  • being treated worse than before
  • having their situation made worse

Examples of detriment could be:

  • their employer reduces their hours
  • they experience bullying
  • they experience harassment
  • their employer turns down their training requests without good reason
  • they are overlooked for promotions or development opportunities

Things to remember

Do not use this pattern to explain detriment in content about recruitment. This would be detriment because of discrimination, which is a different type of detriment.