The Vento bands set compensation rates for "injury to feelings" awards in discrimination cases, providing a structured framework for employment tribunals to determine appropriate compensation for psychological harm caused by discriminatory treatment and the tribunal payouts that can follow.

2023 Updates

From 6 April 2023, all three Vento bands have increased significantly:

Lower Band: £1,100 - £11,200 Covers isolated incidents or one-off acts of discrimination with limited ongoing impact.

Middle Band: £11,200 - £33,700 Applies to more serious cases involving sustained discrimination or harassment over a longer period, the kind of scenarios where discrimination compensation rates quickly become commercially significant for employers.

Upper Band: £33,700 - £56,200 Reserved for the most serious cases involving lengthy campaigns of discrimination or cases with profound and lasting impact, where employer liability for discrimination can extend far beyond salary costs.

Why This Matters

These substantial increases reflect inflation and recognize that psychological harm from discrimination deserves proper compensation.

The updated figures ensure awards remain a meaningful deterrent while providing appropriate recognition for victims.

For employers, these changes highlight the importance of robust equality policies and swift action on discrimination issues, supported by practical EDI compliance guidance and, where needed, ongoing equality and diversity support.

The increased financial consequences make prevention more crucial than ever from both ethical and commercial perspectives.