Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.
This qualitative study for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) explored the perceptions and subjective experiences of claimants who were involved in Race Relations Act (RRA) employment tribunal cases. The main aims of the study were to explore, in-depth, the subjective experiences of claimants involved in Race Relations Act cases. It aimed to cover the following main research themes: the characteristics of the parties and the nature of the disputeknowledge and pre-conceptions of the tribunal system prior to making a race discrimination claimreasons for applying to an employment tribunal (pathways into the tribunal system)the use and experience of workplace dispute resolution proceduressources of advice and representation used, and their role in the casethe role of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)the experience of tribunal hearings (if any attended)the outcome of the case, especially, subjective explanations for the outcome of the casethe costs and benefits to the applicant of bringing the casethe experience of the tribunal process as a wholeForty claimants were interviewed face to face and the interviews were recorded and transcribed, or written up in detail where recording was not possible. Of these, 33 consented to being deposited with the UK Data Archive (UKDA). The study found that claims originate through a complex process. Claimants described their claims as having originated in a mixture of both overt racism and other unfair treatment that was not, on the face of it, racist. Claimants felt that challenging issues of discrimination with their employer had ultimately contributed to the deterioration of the working relationship. Their primary motivation for taking the claim was justice rather than potential financial gain. Claimants tended to be unaware of what would be involved in taking an employment tribunal case. Their expectations of the employment tribunal process were very different from their reported experiences, particularly regarding how long the process would take, the amount of work involved, the amount of legal knowledge required and the need for representation.
Main Topics:
Employment tribunal, race discrimination, RRA, claimants, experiences
Claimants were sourced from those who took part in a quantitative survey carried out by BMRB Social
Face-to-face interview
