The Equality Act 2010 consolidates, harmonises and expands existing discrimination law. The bulk of it came into force on 1 October 2010. Ensure your company is prepared for the changes by reading through our employment law advice, and check for the latest developments on when the remainder of the act 's regulations will be implemented.
The act includes widening "protected characteristics"; defining types and concepts of discrimination; equal pay; pre-employment health questions; and remedies.
Latest news
Mandatory equal pay reporting shelved
Coalition committed to voluntary approach, says equalities minister
Staff to seek pay rises as Equality Act comes into force
Release of gagging clauses could lead to rush of pay claims
Late guidance on Equality Act ‘risks confusion’
Discrimination claims will be split according to 1 October implementation date
UK law restricts plan to boost women on boards, says expert
Government plans to improve gender equality in public-sector boardrooms by 2015 will come up against legal walls
Employers urged to withdraw health questionnaires
Questions about sickness absence or fitness could breach Equality Act
Update policies ahead of Equality Act, employers told
Acas gives legislation guidance on harassment, health checks and pay secrecy
Features
Equal pay: Ladies in waiting
The principle of equal pay for equal work has not fully taken hold even 40 years after it became law. Will this form of discrimination ever be stamped out?
Employment law advice
How does the Equality Act affect recruitment?
Employers’ anti-discrimination duties have changed significantly under the Equality Act - organisations need to be thinking about what this means in practice
No more 'socio-economic' duty under Equality Act
One public-sector provision is scrapped, but there's another one to take its place
Equality Act 2010: A problem with compromise agreements?
An apparent drafting error in the Equality Act is threatening to scupper compromise agreements - but solutions are at hand
Separating myth from reality: why employers should welcome the Equality Act
Contrary to recent headlines, the new equality legislation does not mark a significant expansion of existing discrimination protection
Employment law changes in force from 1 October 2010
A number of important legislative changes that will affect employers came into force on 1 October 2010 - including the Equality Act, minimum wage increases and agency worker regulations
The Equality Act and disabled employees
Of all the discrimination strands affected by the Equality Act 2010, changes to protection for disabled people are set to be the most significant for employers
The Equality Act - what's coming into force and when
The single biggest piece of discrimination legislation since the 1970s begins to take effect this autumn and employers should be preparing now...
Why the Equality Act will stop firms from asking pre-employment health questions
Once the act’s in force, application forms containing medical questions can only be used where they are relevant to the role or to help disabled candidates get jobs
Equality Act 2010: A guide for employers
Although the new legislation leaves much of discrimination law unaltered, it does usher in some significant reforms. This guide highlights those changes
Useful links
Government Equalities Office
Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
Acas
CIPD