What are Vento Bands?

Vento bands are a framework consisting of three levels, which determines the amount a claimant can be awarded as compensation for experiencing injury to feelings in the workplace. They are used by the Employment Tribunals of England, Wales and Scotland when addressing psychiatric injury, whistleblowing and discrimination claims.

Vento bands were named after the case of ‘Vento v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire’ from 2002. During this case, Ms Vento experienced bullying and sexual harassment from her superiors when working at the West Yorkshire Police Department, before being unfairly dismissed. As part of the judication, Vento bands were introduced to more suitably assess the appropriate compensation following injury to feelings.

Vento guidelines

There are three Vento bands: the lower band, middle band, and upper band. The prices are updated each year for inflation, most recently in April 2025.

• Lower band: £1,200—£12,100: for minor or one-off discriminatory actions, which have a limited negative impact on the employee’s wellbeing.
• Middle band: £12,100—£36,400: for sustained discrimination which causes significant emotional distress for the employee.
• Upper band: £36,400—£60,700: extremely serious and prolonged discrimination which causes severe emotional distress.

In exceptionally serious cases, the employee may be able to receive compensation greater than the upper band.

Assessing the appropriate Vento band

The Employment Tribunal will consider multiple factors when assessing the severity of an injury to feelings claim.

Some of the things they will consider are:

• The specific discriminatory or degrading actions
• How many times or for how long the persecution occurred
• The impact on the victim and level of distress caused
• The actions taken by management towards the persecutor
• The mental vulnerability of the employee
• The workplace power difference between the victim and persecutor

If you believe yourself to be a victim of workplace discrimination, DFA Law can prepare and/or represent you at an Employment Tribunal Hearing. For more information, get in touch by emailing info@dfalaw.co.uk or calling 01604 609560.