Long heralded as a major overhaul of UK discrimination laws, a significant proportion of the provisions of the Equality Act come into force on 1 October 2010.
The Act covers employment as well as other areas including the provision of goods and services and public sector duties. The Act not only simplifies and harmonises the different strands of discrimination law that have developed over the last 40 years, but also introduces some key new initiatives to tackle actual and perceived inequality in the workplace. Whether it achieves its aims will only become clear over time but the simplification provisions, at least, are likely to be welcomed by HR and legal practitioners alike.
This brochure summarises the key changes for employers coming into force on 1 October, and provides guidance on what employers should be doing to respond to these changes.
This brochure is for guidance only and is not a substitute for legal advice. If you would like to discuss any aspect of the Act or have a specific query on which you would like advice please contact a member of the employment team. Relevant contact details are set out at the back of this brochure.
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