Ask tough questions about race and sex

Assessing the impact
Most employers will realise you're serious if they receive a questionnaire. They will hopefully make sure that it is completed and that the whole matter is dealt with by someone impartial who will act appropriately. Bear in mind you can submit a questionnaire either when you're still in employment or after you leave - so long as you do so within three months of the last discriminatory act you?re complaining about. You also have protection if your company victimises you as a result of submitting the questionnaire. You may feel a bit uncomfortable about it, but at least you have a legal safety net.

You cannot compel your employer to complete the questionnaire. However, if they don't have a reasonable excuse for failing to, or if they reply in an evasive way, this will be taken into account by the tribunal should you do decide to bring proceedings. As a result, your employer's position may well be adversely affected.

In practice, most people receive a prompt response to the questionnaire. On receiving it, you'll be in a better position to decide whether there are grounds for further action. The answers given should help you understand better what happened behind the scenes, which might be helpful either in negotiations or, as a last resort, in putting together a tribunal claim. Significantly, if the matter goes to court, you can use your employer's responses as evidence.