Diversity and CSR issues

UK equality law stretches back to the 1970s, when laws on sex discrimination, race relations and equal pay were first put on the statute book. The Equality Act 2010 simplified equality law by putting it in all in one place and streamlining what had previously existed. Most of the employment provisions of the Act took effect from 1 October 2010.

The Equality Act 2010 provides that discrimination, in respect of all the protected characteristics, is not unlawful where it is objectively justified, if it is indirect discrimination, based on occupational requirements or permitted as an exception.

Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. Within the Act, an age group means a group of people defined by reference to their age or age range. People share the protected characteristic of age when they fall into the same age group.

Under the Equality Act, 'disability' means a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Gender reassignment is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act. Within the Act, a person has the protected characteristic of gender reassignment if they are proposing to undergo, are undergoing or have undergone a process for the purpose of reassigning their sex by changing physiological or other attributes of sex. A transsexual person has the protected characteristic.