27.05.2010

THE EQUALITY ACT 2010 AND DISCRIMINATION

THE EQUALITY ACT 2010 AND DISCRIMINATION

twitter icon
The new Equality Act received royal assent in April 2010 and it includes a provision that will make it easier for employees to argue that they have suffered discrimination over a combination of factors. The Act says that discrimination occurs if a person is treated less favourably, because of a combination of protected characteristics, than someone without either of those characteristics. The protected characteristics are: - age - disability - gender reassignment - race - religion or belief - sex - sexual orientation This new right applies only to claims of direct discrimination and not indirect discrimination or harassment. People will not only be able to bring individual claims, i.e. of sex and age discrimination, but also for combined discrimination. For this type of claim to succeed employees will need to show they have been treated less favourably than others because of the combination of protected characteristics. They will not need to show that they have been discriminated against on both individual grounds - it is their combined effect that will be important. Employers now face having to defend a new type of claim and need to be all the more sure that decisions they make about employees are based on merit only. There is no defence of justification for direct discrimination so, if employers are unable to show they did not discriminate on the combined grounds, claims will be upheld. Employers must take even greater care to make sure decisions about staff are based solely on merit.

Formed in 2001, The People Connection Ltd provides proactive HR support and development to SME`s in all sectors. Our philosophy is built around a `me to you` approach as we deliver our unique…

Follow us for more articles and posts direct from professionals on      
  Report
Employment & HR

The Benefits of Walking: A Simple Step Towards Better Health

The Benefits of Walking: A Simple Step Towards Better Health Walking is one of the simplest and most accessible forms…
Information Technology

Unlock Your Business Potential with Our IT & Technology...

Unlock Your Business Potential with Our IT & Technology SolutionsHello I hope you're doing well!My name is Allan Smith,…

More Articles

Employment & HR

Occupational Health Support to SMEs

Everwell does not just support larger companies, we do also have a dedicated team supporting SME clients employing…
Health & Medical

Everwell Expands Capacity to Meet Growing Demand for...

We are thrilled to announce that Everwell has expanded its team and increased capacity to better serve our clients. As…
Employment & HR

Ensuring a Healthy School Environment: The Importance of...

Ensuring a Healthy School Environment: The Importance of Occupational Health Assessments The school environment is a…

Would you like to promote an article ?

Post articles and opinions on Manchester Professionals to attract new clients and referrals. Feature in newsletters.
Join for free today and upload your articles for new contacts to read and enquire further.