How to challenge workplace discrimination and win | Donna Patterson | TEDxLondonWomen

When Donna Patterson took on one of the largest supermarkets in the UK, representing herself at an employment tribunal, she had no idea if she would win, let alone that the news of her story would go viral. She was driven by a sense of injustice, having been discriminated against after returning from maternity leave. Without a budget to pay for a lawyer, she learnt how to navigate an employment tribunal and the ins and outs of the UK equality law. She won her discrimination case in 2022 and is now determined to help other workers hold their employers to account - especially women and marginalised groups. Donna believes only by speaking out and challenging discriminatory practices that we can ever hope to change workplaces to reflect the diverse society we live in. Donna is the founder of Let’s Talk Work, an organisation which helps individuals ensure their rights at work are met. Donna founded Let’s Talk Work after she successfully won an employment tribunal claim against one of largest supermarkets in the UK, Morrisons, where she represented herself throughout the proceedings. Let’s Talk Work helps demystify employment tribunals, support people to have difficult conversations at work and drive change in how employers treat working parents. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@JimmyJaxJellyStax]

Practicing the silent blank stare back into their eyes - picturing a laser into their soul - is one powerful strategy. It touches a very fundamental instinct of survival with the eyes. It may have them back down or may have them lose their cool - management and witnesses there to see you did nothing in violation and "they" violated one or several policies of harassment during and after the discriminating remark(s). Only then, continue to speak your part - "ok, well that was uncalled for, let's continue"

[@beckycallicott6891]

Amazing talk Donna! Well done 👍. Your determination is wonderful and you've set a pathway for other women to follow in your footsteps when they need to 💪 an inspiration!

[@labellt9717]

I fully agree that you should take a stand against injustice!

[@cosmosnomad]

It's tough. I agree that discrimination is widespread in organisations. I've experienced disability discrimination. However, in terms of tackling it, there is power in standing up to it but I think it needs to be widespread (large organisations with the power to advocate for workers, such as unions). As Donna says, only 1% of people file an employment tribunal and while that's still the case employers will continue their discriminatory practices because the repercussions are not severe enough. Even looking at Donna's case, great as it is, will not deter employers. She was awarded £60K, which to Morrisons is nothing (with over 100K employees and a turnover of over £17B per year). It's a slap on the wrist. If it doesn't hurt much, that's just the cost of doing business. So perhaps larger penalties.

[@RecoverywithMissWilliams]

Thank you Donna 😢I feel ready to fight my case with some key points you raised ❤

[@NuNaKri]

Very inspiring talk!

[@Chumpess_X]

This is inspiring. Maybe I will take on my employer for the broken promises given to me since my MS diagnosis after all.

[@gazberotten2919]

This goes on in the retail industry as well and often goes unchallenged

[@debbieb5673]

My co worker(male) is getting paid substantially more than me. We have the same job title and do exactly the same job. HR said he is overpaid but they can’t take money away from him .I’ve been there 24 years he’s been there 20. We both transferred out of the same department, mine by choice and his was by the supervisors choice. I trained him on this current job. I’m so aggravated. I just want equal pay!!

[@AlisonMcDermott]

Great talk Donna - clear and compelling - it is so important to raise the issues and barriers that women face in the workplace. Congratulations on your determination and courage for calling this out. There is no 'Equality of Arms' in the Employment Tribunal service and you are one of the few people who have achieved success so even more credit to you. The government data shows that only 4% of people who bring a discrimination case in the ET succeed - which is an appalling statistic. Congratulations again.

[@avelenarachel]

This is a great talk. The gaslighting can be very damaging. Women sometimes won’t speak up because they become unsure of themselves, whether they’re actually wronged or if they’re just being “too sensitive”, as I have been told. Well done for making it through so bravely.

[@PortsladeBySea]

4% is appallingly low. Why is the success rate so poor? What could be done, or provided, to increase the success rate? 🧐

[@python27au]

What barriers? I work with a lot of women and they are getting the same or better pay than me, and there are more women in the higher paying positions than men.

[@ryanmacdonald6181]

My place gives u a warning if u grieve for longer than a week no matter if its your mom child etc my fight back brought me here

[@elainealbert6124]

Thank you. I’m scared but I feel in my heart I want n need to do it

[@wjohns911]

Did you do it, I did and had to step out ion faith and facts.

[@Harthikreddyy]

Imagine looking down on someone for something out of their control must be a petty thing to do just feel bad for the person hopefully they grow up

[@SD03.]

Fantastic ❤

[@bcrawford663]

Love Your Story

[@levanstein1]

I so wish I didn't open this video. What about pay discrimination between men? In make only dominated careers.

[@python27au]

You keep going on about discrimination and unfair treatment exactly what were the issues?

[@justinvarela1885]

Bias usually influences discrimination. Do some research on different bias

[@ismarttaxes7524]

If they have a nondisclosure, they cannot list details. But when it happens to you, it suddenly makes sense 😢

[@labellt9717]

I sense that her boss was working her like a full time person and she was part-time.

[@python27au]

@@labellt9717 so? If she was being paid whats the problem? Most people would be glad for the money. I was a casual working 72 hrs a week, then i was made part time and my hrs dropped to 12-24 hrs a week. I almost went bankrupt, then they made me permanent and my pay went up to survivable but damn i miss those casual days.

[@n.o.9575]

She explains this very clear from 3:50 They gave her full time duties on a part time role and wanted her on call.

[@raj180380]

I don't understand how the discrimination happened with you. Did your employer treat you any different from other men and women? Were the expectations from you changed after your pregnancy and child??

[@python27au]

3:56 so you got maternity leave? Twice? So they let you take large blocks of time off with a guaranteed position when you decided to come back? How many of your coworkers could do this? If i told my boss i want a year off he’d laugh at me, then tell me to hand in my resignation on the way out.

[@cosmosnomad]

You're an American. Ofc you don't understand what it means to have employment rights. This is what a semi-civilised country looks like. Semi because even though we have better worker rights, discrimination still occurs

[@python27au]

@@cosmosnomad sorry, but no, not American. When our first kid was born i was unemployed so my wife took her annual leave off then went back to work, we were broke. When our second kid was born, i was earning enough to support us, so she took her years maternity leave. She had to register with welfare and got a small unemployment payment each fortnight, then after a year she decided not to go back and quit. Then six years later, when my pay was still the same but the rent and bills had doubled, she asked for her job back, and they gave it to her. Imagine being an employer and going a while year with one of your employees off work and not being able to fill the slot only for her to bugger off! But being nice enough to give it back. Now women want to be paid to take time off, so her employer would have not only lost productivity while she was gone, but money as well. Doesn’t seem right. I was brought up to expect a fair days pay for a fair days work. I have sick leave and annual leave, and can take emergency time off without pay, but two years worth? I don’t think so. A small business couldn’t handle the loss of productivity.

[@python27au]

4:07 that does not make sense. You get paid for the hours you work, its only the expected work hours that change. If you are part time they only have to give you 15 hours per week or whatever is in your agreement, anything else is a bonus. If your full time you have to be there for 38 hours per week or whatever is in the agreement. No one can force you to work 38 hours for only 15 hours pay thats illegal, you needed to see your union if that was the case. Unless this is about you wanting to work less hours for the same pay. That would be discriminating against everyone else, why should the five people on your team without kids have to work 8 hours a day for $20 an hour ($160/day) while you get to work 4 hours a day for $40 an hour($160/day), just because you had a kid?

[@NuNaKri]

They can make you work longer. Even when you work full time, the boss can hand you new work after 7.5 hours and tell you, to finish it *today*. Even when that will take you, say 3 hours. Many people will just accept it, they wants to keep their job and don't want their Boss to be angry. But it's not fair at all

[@python27au]

@@NuNaKri ive been asked to work back many times, but ive always been paid for it, so i don’t see the issue. There have been a few times when I couldn’t, then i just put it back on them. Sure i’ll work back but you have to take my kids to school, or sorry i have a flight in two hours are you going to get my family and i to by tomorrow?. They can’t force you to stay thats deprivation of liberty and a crime, they can’t make you work without pay, and they sack you for being unavailable for overtime. If they do you go to the department of industrial relations or whatever they’re called these days and take them to court. A mate did this and got a $25,000 payout and his job back.

[@madlenheather3622]

Try to achieve anything in the UK being a White woman with an accent from the EU!

[@crayfish4722]

I just got fired for having epilepsy.

[@adelesmith7827]

Are you in the uk?

[@Wintinli]

Im so sorry. This isn’t right.

[@python27au]

What was your job?

[@python27au]

I think I’m being discriminated against! I don’t have a uni degree I don’t have a high paying job I don’t have a house And I’m not female I think I’m being pretty hard done by and someone should give me lots of cash in compensation!

[@ismarttaxes7524]

Your comment makes no sense in relation to this video.

[@python27au]

@@ismarttaxes7524 She made choices that changed her circumstances, and she is putting the consequences of those choices onto her employer. I was just using her logic, look at all those rich bastards who aren’t affected by my circumstances they should be made to give me money

[@comegetme2162]

🧚🏻‍♂️👨🏻‍🏫🌌🦅

[@privateblogvideos4189]

Well done Donna 👏🏽

[@sayulitalyfe5299]

How to be a norsee and win = ted talk