The wrong trousers

• Freedom from degrading treatment (Article 3) – you could claim degrading treatment if you’re harassed at work, or made to work in a place where, for instance, your colleagues email porn to you.
  
  
• Prohibition on slavery and forced labour (Article 4) – this could apply if you’re made to work excessive hours (though successful cases in this area are very rare, if not non-existent).
  
  
• Right to a fair trial (Article 6) – this may be useful if your company doesn’t operate a disciplinary policy or denies you the opportunity to be represented at a hearing.
  
  
• Right to respect for private and family life (Article 8) – this could apply in relation to surveillance at work, or discrimination on the basis that you’re a working mother.
  
  
• Freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 9) – you might have a claim if you’re made to work on Sundays or religious holidays (though there have been few successful cases).
  
  
• Freedom of expression (Article 10) – the dress code issue.
  
  
• Freedom of assembly and association (Article 11) – this could be helpful if you’re denied the right to join a trade union.
  
  
• Prohibition on discrimination (Article 12) – speaks for itself, though bear in mind that this isn’t a ‘free standing’ right: the Act simply says that all the other Articles must be applied without discrimination.

These rights could have a massive impact in the workplace. The dress code issue: does it infringe your right to freedom of expression? You’re gay: can your boss get away with those jokes at your expense any longer, or do you have rights under Articles 8 and 12? You know your boss is monitoring your emails and suspect he may be listening in to your phone calls too: can you use Article 8 and claim there’s been a breach of your privacy? You’re obliged to work on Saturdays so you can’t get to synagogue: can you argue that invades your right to freedom of religion? Sounds great – and in some cases the answer may well be yes. But, like all things legal, its not that simple.