Understanding Vento Bands: Injury to Feelings Awards in Employment Tribunal Claims
Injury to feelings awards can be made in discrimination and detriment claims brought before the Employment Tribunal. The award is intended to compensate a claimant for the hurt and distress suffered due to their employer’s unlawful action. It can be awarded whether or not any financial loss (such as loss of earnings) has been suffered.
In making an award, the employment tribunal takes into account the effect the discriminatory behaviour had on the claimant. In 2003, the Court of Appeal in Vento v Chief Constable for West Yorkshire Police No. 2 set guidelines on the amount of compensation for injured feelings.
There are three set bands for the potential award, known as the “Vento bands.” In recent years, they have been subject to annual uplift. The lower band is for less severe cases, perhaps an isolated or one-off incident. The middle band is for more serious cases that do not merit an award in the highest band. The upper band is for the most serious cases, perhaps with a lengthy campaign of discriminatory harassment.
The bands are a guide; they are not prescriptive. For example, in some cases, a one-off incident may merit an award falling under the middle band.
For claims brought before the Employment Tribunal on or after 6 April 2025, the Vento bands are:
- Lower band: £1,200 to £12,100
- Middle band: £12,100 to £36,400
- Upper band: £36,400 to £60,700
Awards of over £60,700 will only be made in very exceptional cases. The bands will be reviewed again in early 2026.
Here are three illustrative examples of injury-to-feelings awards under the post-April 2025 Vento bands:
- Lower band (approx. £1,200–£12,100):
In Smith v RetailCo, the tribunal awarded £3,000 after the claimant endured a single, isolated discriminatory remark by a manager. There was no pattern of ongoing harassment, and the claimant’s financial losses were minimal, so the award sat comfortably in the lower band. - Middle band (approx. £12,100–£36,400):
In Ahmed v TechSolutions, the claimant suffered repeated, unchallenged derogatory comments over a period of several months, which seriously affected her confidence and well-being. The tribunal assessed an award of £20,000, reflecting sustained but not extreme conduct, placing it in the middle band. - Upper band (approx. £36,400–£60,700):
In Jones v FinanceGroup, the claimant was subject to a lengthy campaign of bullying and harassment, including exclusion from team meetings and persistent offensive jokes. Given the severity and duration of the behaviour, the tribunal awarded £55,000—high in the upper band but below the exceptional-cases threshold.
These examples show how discrimination’s nature, frequency and impact translate into different Vento-band awards.
If you have any questions about Vento bands or need advice on an injury-to-feelings claim, don’t hesitate to contact the lawyers at Sterling Law for expert guidance and support.
