Which of the following is NOT a protected characteristic?

• A. Age
• B. Disability
• C. Hair colour
• D. Race

Answer: (C)

Protected characteristics are the categories that anti-discrimination laws specifically safeguard. They include things like age, disability, race, sex, gender identity, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership, religion or belief, and sexual orientation. Hair colour is not listed among these protected categories, so it isn’t something that, on its own, triggers protection under discrimination laws. That’s why hair colour is the NOT-protected option here. In practice, a veterinary setting can still have grooming or appearance policies for safety or professionalism, but these policies must apply equally and not single out people based on protected characteristics.