What is a Detriment? EAT Ruling Clearly Sets Out the Correct Legal Test

The question of whether someone has suffered a 'detriment' is the central issue in a great many employment cases where discrimination or victimisation is alleged. In an important decision, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has given authoritative guidance on the correct legal test to be applied in such cases (Warburton v The Chief Constable of Northamptonshire).

When applying to become a police officer, a man at the outset disclosed to the force concerned that he was in the process of pursuing an employment claim against another force, alleging unlawful discrimination. There was no dispute that that disclosure amounted to a protected act.

Following interview and assessment, the force made him a conditional offer, subject to pre-employment checks. However, he was subsequently told that his application had been unsuccessful due to his failure to meet the force's vetting requirements. He launched proceedings against the force, alleging that he had been victimised, but his claim was rejected by an Employment Tribunal (ET).

In upholding his challenge to that outcome, the EAT found that the ET's failure to set out in terms in its decision the legal definition of 'detriment' meant that it was at least uncertain that it had applied the correct test. The man's victimisation claim was remitted to a differently constituted ET for fresh consideration.

The EAT noted that the concept of detriment is interpreted widely and that the key test is whether treatment is of such a kind that a reasonable worker would or might take the view that, in all the circumstances, it was to their detriment. In order for a worker to establish that they have suffered a detriment, it is not necessary for them to show that they have suffered any physical or economic consequences.

Although the test is framed by reference to a reasonable worker, it is not wholly objective. To pass the test, it is enough that a reasonable worker might take the view that they have suffered a detriment. Even where an ET takes a perfectly reasonable view that there is no detriment, if a reasonable worker might differ then the test is satisfied. The EAT noted that, on the application of the correct legal test, it should not be particularly difficult to establish a detriment.

In asking itself whether the protected act was the cause of his application being rejected, the ET had also failed to apply the right legal test. The correct question was whether the protected act was the 'reason why' he was rejected, in the sense of having a significant influence on the outcome.