Equality

The Equality Act

The Equality Act 2010 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance) protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. The following characteristics are protected:

Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation

The Equality Duty

The Public sector equality duty came into force on 5 April 2011 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/149). It means that public bodies have to consider all individuals when carrying out their day-to-day work – in shaping policy, delivering services and in relation to their own employees.

It also requires that public bodies have due regard for the need to: eliminate discrimination; advance equality of opportunity; foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities.