Internships, Apprenticeships & Work in Ireland: How to Recognise and Report Racism on the Job

Why This Guide Matters—For Interns, Apprentices and Employees

Workplaces in Ireland—whether an office, shop floor, site or service—should be safe and inclusive for everyone. Yet racism can appear in hiring, daily interactions, shift allocation, performance reviews or customer-facing situations. If you’re starting an internship or apprenticeship, or you’re already employed, understanding how to recognise, prevent and report racism protects you and your colleagues and helps organisations improve.

What Workplace Racism Can Look Like

Racism is not only blatant slurs. It can also be subtle patterns that disadvantage people over time:

• Verbal abuse or “jokes”: slurs, nicknames, mocking accents or religion.
• Unequal treatment: fewer hours, undesirable shifts, blocked training or promotions compared to peers.
• Gatekeeping in hiring: dismissing candidates due to name, nationality or “cultural fit”.
• Customer/client harassment: racist remarks toward staff that go unchallenged.
• Online spaces: racist messages in work chats, email threads or private groups.

Know Your Rights (Ireland)

In Ireland, the Employment Equality Acts prohibit discrimination at work—including on grounds of race, colour, nationality or ethnic origin—across recruitment, pay, training and conditions. Apprentices and interns are also covered when they are in a work relationship. Employers have duties to prevent harassment and act when it’s reported.

Practical Steps If You Experience or Witness Racism

Use these steps whether you’re an intern, apprentice or employee. Adapt to the situation and your safety:

1. Support the person targeted: Check in privately if possible: “I’m sorry that happened—would you like me to stay with you or help document it?”
2. Seek help: Notify a supervisor, HR, a trusted manager or a designated contact (equality/EDI lead, union rep). If customers are involved, ask a manager to intervene.
3. Record details: Write down the date, time, place, people present, exact words/actions and any impact (missed shift, anxiety). Save screenshots of messages or emails.
4. Report: Follow internal policies (dignity at work/anti-harassment). You can also submit an independent community report via gatrar.com to help track wider patterns across Ireland.
5. Escalate appropriately: If internal responses fail or the behaviour is severe, seek advice on external options (see “Helpful Links” below). If there’s immediate danger, call 999/112.

For Managers, Mentors and Team Leads

• Set clear standards: Share your anti-racism and dignity-at-work policy with every starter (interns, apprentices, temps and full-time staff).
• Act quickly: Acknowledge reports, separate parties if needed, and begin a fair, confidential process.
• Protect from retaliation: Make it explicit that punishing someone for reporting is unacceptable.
• Fix systems: Track incidents, review shift allocation, pay, progression and training access for equity.
• Train your team: Provide bystander-intervention refreshers: Support → Seek help → Record → Report.

Everyday Scenarios & How to Respond

Use the four-step approach in common work situations:

• Customer targets staff: Support the colleague; ask a manager to address the customer; document; log the incident.
• Colleague makes a “joke”: De-escalate: “That’s not okay here.” Offer to support a report; note what was said.
• Unequal shifts/training: Keep a diary of allocations and requests; raise patterns with a supervisor/HR; report if bias persists.
• Group chat comment: Screenshot, report via policy, and request moderation standards for digital channels.

Wellbeing Matters

Racism impacts mental health—stress, anxiety and loss of confidence. Encourage targeted colleagues (or yourself) to use support lines or counselling services. A healthy team names harm and addresses it early.

Helpful Links in Ireland

For advice, information or external reporting pathways:

• INAR – Irish Network Against Racism
• Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) – information on employment rights and complaints
• Citizens Information – employment equality & workers’ rights
• Immigrant Council of Ireland – advice for migrants

Report, Improve, Repeat

Racism—whether during an internship, apprenticeship or in a permanent role—undermines safety and performance at work. When you support colleagues, document incidents and report them internally and via gatrar.com, you help your team fix problems and you contribute to national data that drives change. Your voice matters. Your report is your power.