Discriminated because I do not drive

[Tsunami99]

I was overlooked for promotion in my previous job and the employer said it was because I didn't drive even though the job does not entail any driving duties. I was wondering if this would be covered in some kind of discrimination law?

[factor-fiction]

Do you think this wasn't the real reason?
Did you follow up with your employer why driving was relevant?

[Twenty20]

Discrimination law relates to disabilities, race, sex etc and not anything to do with your ability to drive or not (unless your ability is disability related).

[Buenchico]

As Twenty 20 indicates, discrimination within the workplace is not, per se, illegal.

An employer is free to discriminate on all sorts of grounds as long as they don't break the specific rules which apply to such things as gender, race, sexual orientation, age, etc.

The situation you describe sounds a little odd but there might be other factors which we've not been told about. For example, although your job doesn't involve driving, perhaps the promoted post was seen as a career step towards a higher post (such as regional manager) which would involve driving. (e.g. if the company was later seeking to promote an assistant manager up to the regional manager job, they'd be kicking themselves if they'd appointed an assistant manager who couldn't drive, So it would be reasonable not to offer an assistant manager post to someone who couldn't drive).

Chris